Kolkata: The first question that came to everyone’s mind after the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) Opposition bloc came into being was how alliance partners which have been fighting tooth and nail among themselves in different states would join hands for the Lok Sabha polls.
As the elections draw nearer, some rifts are already visible. Now, as seat-sharing talks have begun in states, the chasm seems to widen.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee fired a salvo on Friday which won’t be music for the ears of INDIA partners.
The West Bengal chief minister said only the TMC can teach the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lesson in West Bengal.
“Only TMC can teach the BJP a lesson in West Bengal and set a model for others across the country. No other party can do it,” Mamata said while addressing party workers in North 24 Parganas.
Mamata expressed the desire of TMC fighting the BJP in West Bengal. At the same time, she said INDIA alliance will contest from all seats across the country.
Congress and CPI(M) are staunch rivals of TMC in Wes Bengal, and there has been no indication yet of the three INDIA block partners coming to an agreement over seat sharing.
There are 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, of which TMC won 22, BJP 18 and Congress 2 in the 2019 general elections.
Mamata BJP will torture people if they manage to increase its number of seats in the state.
“Ensure that West Bengal does not slip out of the TMC’s hands. If we get fewer seats, the torture (by the BJP) will shoot up,” Mamata said.
