During the recent gathering of the Opposition INDIA bloc, a crucial decision emerged: the urgent need to finalize discussions on seat allocation for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha election. The meeting convened in Delhi, highlighted the primary goal of consensus-building for seat distribution, yet it presents a challenging task for the Congress.
Across various states like Punjab, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, the Congress faces roadblocks in its efforts for seat-sharing due to the clear stances adopted by the ruling parties in these regions. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared its intent to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently. Simultaneously, West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reinforced the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) decision to go solo, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra has firmly demanded 23 seats, causing a standstill in discussions.
These developments have effectively hindered the Congress's seat-sharing endeavors within the INDIA bloc, as witnessed in the individual stands taken by key allies in Punjab, West Bengal, and Maharashtra.
Mamata Banerjee's recent declaration firmly established the TMC's independent contest in West Bengal for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, reiterating the party's commitment to fight against the BJP. She emphasized that only the TMC held the potential to counter the BJP in Bengal, signaling no inclination towards a coalition or seat-sharing with the INDIA bloc, Congress, or the Left Front.
The situation in West Bengal is complex for the Congress, especially considering the outcomes of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where the party contested solo, winning just two out of 42 seats, while the TMC secured 22 seats.
In Maharashtra, pivotal for both the Congress and the INDIA bloc's allies, Shiv Sena's demand for 23 seats created a deadlock in negotiations. However, Congress is strategizing to bolster its presence in the state. Initiatives like the Bharat Nayay Yatra from Manipur, culminating in Mumbai on March 20, and the recent celebration of the party's 139th foundation day in Nagpur are part of the efforts to strengthen its foothold.
The demand put forth by Shiv Sena was labeled "excessive" by senior Maharashtra Congress leader Ashok Chavan, emphasizing the necessity for better adjustment among the parties considering the current circumstances.
Reflecting on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where Congress and NCP fought jointly but had limited success—Congress securing only one seat out of 48 while NCP won four—the Shiv Sena and BJP alliance managed to secure significant victories.
The Congress faces a similar predicament in Punjab, where party leaders have voiced their desire for an independent contest. This sentiment was reaffirmed in discussions among Congress's central leadership and key Punjab party leaders on December 26.
After deliberations among over 30 members of the Congress Political Affairs Committee, Partap Singh Bajwa, the Congress Legislature Party leader, affirmed that the central leadership acknowledged their views and pledged to safeguard the party's interests moving forward.
