On the day marked by Tuesday, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury voiced his criticism of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, categorizing her as an opportunist. Furthermore, he conveyed the party's stance, asserting that they intend to participate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections without seeking Mamata Banerjee's assistance.
Chowdhury emphasized the Congress's self-reliance, stating, "We won't engage in the electoral contest with Mamata's support. Congress possesses the capability to navigate the electoral landscape independently, and Mamata Banerjee should be mindful that it was with Congress's backing that she ascended to power in Bengal."
This statement follows a series of developments, with West Bengal Congress chief Chowdhury expressing dissatisfaction with the INDIA bloc partner Trinamool Congress on Saturday. Notably, he asserted having previously defeated the Trinamool Congress. These remarks were prompted by reports suggesting that the Trinamool Congress is inclined to field candidates in all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.
The rift between the Congress and Trinamool Congress is not a recent occurrence, as evidenced by Chowdhury's earlier criticism in the first week of January regarding seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Bengal. At that time, reports indicated that the Trinamool had offered two seats to Congress, to which Chowdhury responded assertively, stating that Congress would not resort to seeking seats through supplication.
It is essential to note that Trinamool Congress is a constituent of the INDIA bloc alliance alongside the Congress, and seat-sharing negotiations were anticipated for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. The current discord between the two parties raises questions about the stability of their alliance and the dynamics of their electoral collaboration in the forthcoming elections.
