TMC, Congress step up war of words over sharing of LS seats in West Bengal
Times of India | 21 January 2024
KOLKATA: TMC has kept the alliance door ajar for Congress in Bengal but will not tolerate any unjustified bargaining for Lok Sabha seats, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Saturday, adding CM Mamata Banerjee will take “the right decision at the right time”.
His remarks came in response to questions whether Mamata’s advice to party workers on Friday to be ready to fight all 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal was indicative of a breakdown in TMC’s talks with Congress.
“CM Mamata Banerjee is among INDIA bloc’s most important leaders. That is why she respects this alliance and is adhering to alliance dharma. This is why TMC is tolerating this (seat demands by Congress). But if this becomes impractical bargaining, TMC will not sit and wait,” Ghosh said.
Bengal Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said: “I don’t care about anyone. Our leaders have spoken. We know how to contest and win.”
But All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba said in Siliguri that the party leadership was holding talks with INDIA constituents in various states, including Bengal, over LS poll seat-sharing.
TMC’s Ghosh warned that his party is capable of going solo. “TMC ekai eksho (TMC is competent on its own). TMC had fought BJP on its own in 2021 (assembly polls) Where were Congress and CPM then? They were fighting separately in a coalition and got zero. There is no dilemma on that issue. We cannot see CPM and Congress help BJP by trying to weaken TMC,” he said.
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