1. TMC extends alliance offer to Congress in West Bengal, suggesting two Lok Sabha seats.
2. TMC declines further negotiations with Congress’s national alliance committee.
3. Emphasis on talks between top leadership of TMC and Congress for alliance discussions.
New Delhi, Jan 11: Trinamool Congress (TMC) has extended an offer to the Congress for an alliance in West Bengal, proposing two Lok Sabha seats.
However, the TMC has reportedly rebuffed further negotiations with the Congress’s national alliance committee, insisting that talks should occur between the top leadership of the two parties.
The seats offered by the TMC are presently held by the Congress, creating a complex scenario for the latter to accept the proposal, according to a member of the Congress’s alliance panel.
Additionally, the TMC has expressed interest in securing a seat in Meghalaya, citing a 13.8% vote share in the last assembly polls, marginally higher than that of the Congress.
The national alliance committee, led by Congress veteran Mukul Wasnik, has engaged with various political parties, including Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (Uddhav), Nationalist Congress Party, and Samajwadi Party for discussions on seat-sharing.
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A senior TMC lawmaker involved in the party’s strategy emphasized that the offer for two seats was communicated to the Congress three weeks ago, and any further meetings with a committee at this stage would serve no purpose.
The TMC leadership has conveyed to the Congress the perception that the latter is “very weak” in Bengal, citing the Congress’s performance in the last elections.
The TMC is advocating for a recognition of these limitations, expressing a commitment to the INDIA bloc and a joint effort to defeat the BJP.
While the TMC has indicated openness to talks between top leaders, acknowledging that discussions could occur if someone like Sonia Gandhi reaches out to Mamata Banerjee, a TMC Rajya Sabha leader noted that talks at the leadership level could be considered.
Notably, the initial offer was discussed during a meeting between Mamata Banerjee and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with former party chief Rahul Gandhi, on the sidelines of the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on December 19.
In that meeting, Banerjee proposed the two seats held by Congress in Bengal, namely Maldah Dakshin and Baharampur.
However, some Congress leaders expressed reservations about accepting the TMC’s offer, citing internal discussions where Bengal leaders highlighted concerns, including alleged atrocities against Congress workers.
Bengal unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury emphasized that TMC’s offer of two seats already belonging to the Congress might not be acceptable, questioning whether TMC was doing the Congress a favor.
