News Analysis India

Tag: Seat-Sharing

  • In Big Setback To INDIA Bloc, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC To Contest 2024 Polls Alone In Bengal |

    KOLKATA: In a huge setback to the Opposition INDIA bloc, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that her party TMC will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Bengal on all 42 seats. She further stated that TMC will consider a pan-India alliance with the Congress-led INDIA bloc only after the 2024 election results have been declared. Mamata has also reportedly instructed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and supporters to gear up for a fierce electoral battle on all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. During a meeting in Kalighat, Mamata asserted, “Be ready to fight on all seats. I wanted to leave two, but Congress wants twelve.”

    She added, “I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and, in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of the INDIA alliance.” 

    “I gave many proposals but they rejected them from the beginning. From then, we have decided to fight the elections in Bengal alone,” the TMC chief said.

     

    West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says “I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of… pic.twitter.com/VK2HH3arJI
    — ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2024

     

    The Bengal Chief Minister also claimed that she had not been informed of Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra passing through Bengal, contrary to claims by the Congress that they had invited INDIA bloc parties to join the Yatra. “They did not even bother to inform me that they would be coming to West Bengal as a matter of courtesy even though I am a part of the INDIA bloc. So there is no relation with me as far as Bengal is concerned” Mamata Banerjee said.

    Warning Shots: TMC’s Seat-Sharing Deadlock

    With seat-sharing discussions with Congress yielding no results, Mamata had earlier cautioned that TMC is prepared to independently contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats if not given the “due importance.” This declaration sets the stage for a potential showdown within the INDIA bloc.

    Strategic Meeting In Murshidabad: Rallying The Troops

    Mamata’s message was delivered during a closed-door organisational meeting of the party’s Murshidabad district unit, known for its significant minority population and historical ties to the Congress. Emphasizing the need for victory in all three Lok Sabha seats in the district, Mamata urged TMC workers to be battle-ready.

    Congress’ Waning Influence: Bengal’s Political Chessboard

    In the 2019 general elections, Congress managed to retain only the Baharampur seat in West Bengal, highlighting its diminishing political foothold. The state’s political dynamics reveal a complex scenario with TMC, Congress, and CPI(M)-led Left Front allying against the BJP, creating rifts within the Opposition.

    The INDIA Bloc Turmoil: TMC’s Offer And Congress’ Rejection

    Tensions escalated as TMC reportedly offered Congress only two seats, a proposal rejected by the grand old party. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, state Congress president, emphasized that Congress would not “beg” for seats. The fallout raises concerns about the unity of the Opposition ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.

    Last week, the TMC abstained from an INDIA bloc virtual meeting, underscoring the necessity for Congress to recognize its limitations in West Bengal. The ruling party emphasized its role in spearheading the state’s political battle, hinting at growing discontent within the alliance.

    Historical Alliances: TMC’s Past Ties With Congress

    The Trinamool Congress had previously allied with Congress in the 2001 assembly polls, 2009 Lok Sabha elections, and the 2011 assembly polls, leading to the ousting of the CPI(M)-led Left Front government after 34 years. The current discord between TMC and Congress adds a new chapter to their political history. With Mamata’s decision to go alone, it now appears that the doors are closed for the Congress in Bengal. For the INDIA bloc, stitching together a formidable alliance has proven to be a stumbling block and it appears that now the alliance may not be able to put together a united front against the BJP.

  • BREAKING: Seat-Sharing In INDIA Bloc Will Take Time, Says RJD Supremo Lalu Yadav |

    NEW DELHI: Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday said that the process of reaching an agreement on seat-sharing within the opposition INDIA bloc is a time-consuming task. He also dispelled rumours of a discord with Janata Dal-United president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to reporters, Lalu stated, “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance… it will take time.”

     

    Patna, Bihar | RJD chief Lalu Yadav says “Seat sharing does not happen so quickly in an alliance…. I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple” pic.twitter.com/lvzN7hogQM
    — ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2024

     

    Lalu Declines Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Invite

    Simultaneously, the veteran Bihar politician declined an invitation to attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya. Clarifying his decision, Lalu told reporters, “I will not go to Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple.” Lalu further said that he would go to Ayodhya for a ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla. He also said that he would write a letter to Ram Temple Trust member Champat Rai, explaining the reason for not coming to attend the ceremony. 

    INDIA Allies Grapple With Seat-Sharing Consensus

    Despite numerous rounds of discussions, INDIA allies continue to grapple with the challenge of reaching a consensus on seat-sharing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The ongoing struggle further intensified with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declining the offer to become the convener of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

    Growing Discord Within INDIA Bloc

    The Janata Dal (United) has expressed disappointment over the bloc’s failure to finalize seat-sharing arrangements and strategize for the upcoming parliamentary polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as the consensus chairperson, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed Nitish Kumar’s candidature as convener.

    Seat-sharing talks in Bihar among the ruling coalition members faced hurdles over differences in seat adjustment and allotment. JD(U), Congress, and the Left parties, particularly CPI-ML (Liberation), played hardball during the negotiations.

    Kumar’s Strategic Move: Refusal To Become Convener Raises Stakes

    Despite being offered the post, JD(U) chief Kumar declined to become the convener of INDIA, reinforcing his commitment to not taking up any post in the coalition. This strategic move by Kumar keeps opposition parties guessing about his next steps, adding complexity to the ongoing political dynamics.

    Kumar’s refusal to become convener is anticipated to elevate his stature in Bihar politics. As a key figure in the state’s triangular politics, involving the RJD, BJP, and JD(U), Kumar’s decision provides him with multiple strategic options. The upcoming weeks are deemed crucial in Bihar politics, with all parties striving to align their equations effectively, according to political analysts.

  • Congress Begins Seat-Sharing Talks With INDIA Bloc Constituents For 2024 Lok Sabha Elections |

    New Delhi: The Congress party has started the process of seat-sharing with its allies in the INDIA bloc, a 28-party opposition coalition that aims to challenge the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, the party has instructed its senior leaders to initiate talks with other leaders of the alliance and some discussions have already begun. The sources also said that formal negotiations for seat-sharing with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and Delhi will commence on Monday.

    The party has formed a five-member committee on seat-sharing, headed by Mukul Wasnik and comprising of Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and other senior leaders. The committee has conducted internal consultations with state Congress chiefs and submitted its report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

    The seat-sharing talks with other parties follow the decision of the INDIA bloc to field a single opposition candidate in each Lok Sabha seat against the BJP, in order to maximise the chances of defeating it in 2024. The sources said that Kharge has delegated the responsibility of working on seat distribution with other parties to senior leaders, including the members of the seat-sharing committee.

    The Congress has already forged pre-poll alliances with parties like the DMK in Tamil Nadu, RJD and JDU in Bihar, JMM in Jharkhand and others in Assam, but it faces challenges in striking deals with some major parties in key states.

    Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi And Punjab Pose Difficulties

    The most difficult states for the Congress to have seat-sharing arrangements with INDIA bloc partners are Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab, where the party insiders admit the complexity of the situation. In West Bengal, the TMC and the Left, despite being part of the opposition alliance, are not willing to have any understanding with each other and the Congress will have to choose one of them.

    The recent statements of TMC leaders and Congress PCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have also dampened the prospects of a possible partnership between the two parties in the state. In Kerala, the Congress has 19 of the 20 MPs from the state and having an arrangement with the CPI-M seems unlikely as it would mean sacrificing its sitting MPs.

    In Punjab, both the AAP and the Congress are confident of their victory and do not want to have any alliance. State Congress units of other states like Kerala have also opposed any seat-sharing, the sources said.

    Congress-Samajwadi Party Rift In Uttar Pradesh

    The relations between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh are also strained, as evident from the recent statements of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is unhappy with the Congress for not giving him any seats in the recent Madhya Pradesh assembly election and for the remarks of Kamal Nath against him.

    However, the Congress is holding seat-sharing talks with all partners while hoping to find some middle ground in order to strengthen the opposition against the BJP.

    The sources added that the party has decided to complete the seat-sharing arrangements with other parties of the opposition by the end of this month.

    INDIA Bloc May Pick A Convener Soon

    Congress president Kharge had said on Saturday that leaders of INDIA parties would take a decision within 10-15 days on the allocation of posts in the opposition bloc, amid speculation that the alliance could pick a convener before the Lok Sabha elections. He also said that all other matters, including seat-sharing of the INDIA bloc, would be resolved soon, with party sources indicating that this is likely to be done by the month-end.

    Kharge said that the Congress is working on all the 545 Lok Sabha constituencies and has appointed observers for all the seats, but the final decision on which party will contest which seat and how many will be taken after consultations with all constituents of the opposition alliance. Asked how many seats the party would contest, he said, “We have already finalised parliamentary observers for all the constituencies… We will go and assess in each Parliamentary constituency.”