West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, firmly declares that the Trinamool Congress won't yield a single seat to the Congress in the 'India' alliance. Despite initial talks of fielding common candidates to counter the BJP in 350 seats, the alliance's unity now appears fractured.
The ongoing seat-sharing dispute between Congress and Trinamool Congress remains a significant hurdle. Mamata, announcing her intent to contest all seats in West Bengal, leaves the alliance in disarray.
Mamata's announcement strategically coincides with Rahul Gandhi's 'India Unity and Justice Yatra,' causing shock among other coalition parties. She offers only two seats to Congress, leading to immediate agitation among state Congress leaders.
Congress leaders argue for a larger share, citing their past performance in West Bengal. Mamata, unwavering, insists on only two seats, triggering a war of words between TMC and Congress leaders.
Malda is an influential constituency for the Congress. If they stand alone, they have a chance to succeed there. Congress functionaries say it is ridiculous that Mamata is offering it in seat sharing.
With no amicable resolution in sight, tensions rise as Mamata asserts that only TMC can defeat BJP in West Bengal, leaving no room for Congress. She emphasizes the absence of a single MLA from Congress in the state.
Mamata's ultimatum is clear - TMC will contest all constituencies. She dismisses Congress's refusal of two seats, stating they now have none. The political drama unfolds in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasizes the need for a united voice within the coalition. He declares that decisions taken unilaterally by one side cannot be accepted in a coalition. The situation adds further complexity to the alliance's coherence.
The Congress high command attempts to salvage the alliance, incorporating Ramesh's viewpoint. However, internal contradictions raise questions about the alliance's coherence and its impact on the upcoming elections.
As the turmoil unfolds, questions linger - will there be seat-sharing with Communist parties? Will Congress yield to Mamata's stance, or will a separate contest be the outcome? In this unpredictable political game, anything can happen.
This copy was originally written by Journalist A Palaniappan and appeared in the vikatan.com.