In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress has given a big blow to the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (India).
Angered by the seat sharing, Trinamool Congress President and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced to contest the elections alone on all the seats in the state.
Mamata Banerjee has announced Ekla Chalo at a time when the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by former Congress President Rahul Gandhi is reaching Cooch Behar in West Bengal on Thursday.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s tough attitude has increased the pressure on Congress. The party is trying to control damage, but now the path is not easy.
To convince Mamata Banerjee, Congress will have to accept all her conditions.
Trinamool Congress is continuously offering two seats to Congress in West Bengal, but the party wants at least five seats. Along with this, the party will also have to silence state president Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary.
Trinamool Congress’s announcement of Ekla Chalo has not only increased its bargaining power in the India alliance, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also given strength to other regional constituents.
Despite three rounds of talks between SP and Congress in UP, no consensus has been reached. Congress had got only one seat in the 2019 elections, but the party is demanding 15 seats in the alliance.
Samajwadi Party has also gained strength after Mamata’s stance.
A senior Samajwadi Party leader said that Congress will have to understand the ground reality. In the year 2017, Congress had contested 114 seats in SP alliance, but it could win only seven seats.
Similarly, it got two seats in 2014 Lok Sabha and only one seat in 2019. In such a situation, Congress should stake claim on seats only after understanding its position.
SP has already divided seats with RLD and discussions are going on with other small parties also.
Similarly, the strength of RJD and JD(U) has increased due to seat sharing in Bihar. This time JMM in Jharkhand is not ready to give seats to Congress on the lines of 2019. There is rhetoric going on in Tamil Nadu regarding seat sharing with DMK. In such a situation, pressure on Congress has increased.
A party leader said that now Congress will have to listen to the regional parties to keep the alliance intact, otherwise it will be held responsible for the break of the alliance.
Congress realizes its responsibility
A senior Congress leader said that the party is aware of its responsibilities. We will try our best to take everyone along.
He admitted that Mamata Banerjee’s stance has reduced the party’s bargaining power with regional parties on seat sharing.
The party will now have to discuss with the constituents more carefully, so that they do not get any chance to get angry. In the current political situation, the party also considers it as its responsibility.