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Mamata Banerjee: "Congress Can Contest 300 Lok Sabha Seats, But..."

By - 23 Jan 2024 01:41 AM

Kolkata: Amid an internal discord over seat-sharing within the INDIA bloc, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday batted for the idea of regional leaders spearheading the fight against the BJP in specific regions, suggesting that Congress independently contest 300 Lok Sabha seats.

Ms Banerjee, the chief minister, also accused the CPI(M) of striving to control the opposition grouping's agenda, underscoring that no one confronts the BJP as directly as she does."I insist that particular regions should be left to regional parties. They (Congress) can fight on 300 (Lok Sabha) seats alone, and I will help them. I will not contest those seats. But, they are adamant about doing what they want," she said at an 'all-faith harmony rally' in Kolkata, which coincided with the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.Ms Banerjee's comments followed her assertion during a recent internal party meeting that the TMC is prepared to independently contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal if not given "due importance".

"I have the power to take on the BJP and fight against it. But, some people don't want to listen to us about seat-sharing. If you don't want to fight the BJP,Ms. Banerjee chastised the Congress for postponing talks on seat-sharing in the state, but she did not specifically mention the party.

The leader of the TMC stated that she could not accept the CPI(M)-led Left Front dictating the agenda for the INDIA bloc meetings.

"I proposed the name INDIA at an opposition bloc meeting. But whenever I attend the coalition's meetings, I find the Left trying to gain control. This is not acceptable. I cannot agree with those with whom I had fought for 34 years," she said.Ms. Banerjee chastised the Congress for postponing talks on seat-sharing in the state, but she did not specifically mention the party.I've adjusted and gone to the INDIA bloc meetings in spite of these insults," Ms. Banerjee said.

"Just going to the temple isn't enough," she remarked, seemingly in reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being prevented in Assam from seeing the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimant Sankardeva.

She emphasized her proactive approach towards the saffron camp by asking, "What percentage of politicians today confronted the BJP head-on? Someone visited one temple and believed it to be adequate, but it wasn't. I am the only one who visited the temple, gurudwara, church, and mosque. When the Babri Masjid issue (demolition) happened, and violence was taking place, I wasMs. Banerjee's remarks provoked strong responses from the CPI(M) and the Congress.

"We are unable to comment on the caprices and whims of the TMC hierarchy. Let them do whatever they feel like," Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.