According to sources from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the ongoing seat-sharing discussions between the TMC and the Congress for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal have hit a roadblock due to the steadfast stance of the state Congress president, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. TMC insiders informed India Today TV that Chowdhury's approach remains the primary impediment to fostering a cooperative atmosphere between the two political entities in the state.
It is believed that a crucial decision regarding Chowdhury's role needs to be made by the Congress to facilitate progress in the seat-sharing negotiations in West Bengal. TMC sources expressed dissatisfaction with Chowdhury's consistent targeting of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, especially in contrast to the relatively muted response to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's criticism of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, responding to the situation, Chowdhury suggested that if the Congress and the TMC fail to form an alliance, minority communities in West Bengal might not lend their support to Banerjee's party. He highlighted the TMC's internal conflicts, indicating that while some factions advocate for continuing the alliance, others fear potential reprisals from the Modi government if the alliance gains prominence in West Bengal.
In a separate development, TMC sources revealed to India Today TV that the party remains open to initiating discussions with the Congress regarding seat-sharing arrangements for the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Assam. This decision comes nearly a month after Banerjee declared the TMC's decision to contest the state's upcoming elections independently.
The TMC's proposal to the Congress regarding seat allocation remains consistent across West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Assam. In West Bengal, where the TMC holds power, the party is prepared to allocate two Lok Sabha seats to the Congress out of the total 42. Previously, tensions between the two parties arose when the TMC purportedly rejected the Congress's request for a more significant share of seats in the state.
For Meghalaya and Assam, the TMC is considering offering one seat each to the Congress. Assam has a total of 14 Lok Sabha seats, while Meghalaya has two.
