Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee seized the opportunity to criticize the Congress party's dismal performance in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council elections in Assam. Taking a swipe at the grand old party's "seat-sharing aspirations in Bengal," Banerjee expressed his views on social media, suggesting that the Congress's ambitions for seat-sharing in Bengal are comparable to aiming for the stars when they struggled to gain ground in their own backyard.
These remarks from Banerjee surfaced as the BJP successfully retained power in the NCHAC in Assam's Dima Hasao district, securing 25 out of 30 seats in the council elections. Notably, the TMC, participating in these elections for the first time, managed to secure a 7.63 percent vote share. In contrast, the Congress party failed to secure any seats, holding a meager vote share of 8.87 percent.
Banerjee's pointed comments aimed at the Congress are part of the ongoing discussions within the INDIA bloc, of which both parties are members, regarding the seat-sharing formula ahead of the upcoming general elections. The TMC has proposed two out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal to the Congress, its ally in the Opposition alliance. However, reports suggest that the Congress is dissatisfied with this allotment.
Sources indicate that the TMC believes the dominant party in the state should have the authority to make the final decision on seat sharing. The proposed seat-sharing numbers are reportedly based on a clear formula that considers both parliamentary elections and state assembly elections.
