New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's attitude towards Congress seems to be softening after the victory of Congress in the Karnataka assembly elections.
After the 2021 W Bengal assembly elections, Mamta Banerjee started the exercise of opposition unity. But soon she became disillusioned with the Congress and stressed on maintaining an equal distance from the Congress and the Left parties. Till recently Mamta was a vocal critic of Congress.
But what she said while talking to reporters in Kolkata on Monday is completely opposite to her earlier stand. But at the same time he has raised questions on the policy of the Congress.
Reiterating the appeal of opposition unity once again before the Lok Sabha elections, Mamata said that she will support the Congress in some areas.
She said, "Strong parties in a particular region should fight together. I am supporting the Congress in Karnataka. But it should not fight against me in Bengal."
Mamata has spoken clearly for the first time about the Congress on the issue of opposition unity in recent times.
Talking to reporters in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress chief said, "Wherever people are very demoralised and frustrated, where there is anti-incumbency, like in Karnataka, the verdict is against the BJP. Wherever the people have been antagonised, atrocities are happening, the economy has been ruined, the democratic right has been bulldozed, so in such situation, whoever is strong in that region, they should fight there together."
Priority must be given to strong regional parties
She made it clear that priority will have to be given to strong regional parties in their respective areas in the distribution of seats. "Priority should be given to strong regional parties," she said.
Mamata had also met several times with opposition leaders and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in Delhi in connection with the exercise of opposition unity after the 2021 assembly elections. But this exercise could not succeed.
Cong should fight on around 200 seats
Revealing the seat-sharing formula, Banerjee said that Congress should fight on around 200 seats while rest parliamentary seats should be given to regional parties. "Wherever the Congress is strong, their respective 200 (Lok Sabha) seats or whatever they have calculated, we will let them fight. We will give support. They have to support the other political parties also. If I am supporting them in Karnataka and they are fighting against me in Bengal, this should not be the policy. If you want to get good things, then you will have to sacrifice yourself also in some areas," said Banerjee.
Mamata Banerjee said that Congress also has to back other parties to get support from them. Banerjee had earlier saluted the people of Karnataka after the BJP lost power there while avoiding mention of the grand old party with which TMC has had run-ins in the past.
Grand old party has not welcomed Mamata's suggestions
Congress has given a lukewarm response to Mamata's statement. It is clear from the statement of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury that the grand old party has not welcomed Mamata's suggestions.
Reacting to Mamata Banerjee's statement, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Congress will fight everywhere including Bengal. The Congress leader said, “When the elections were going on, Mamata never appealed for the Congress candidates. Mamata helped BJP by going to UP and Bihar. But she not come to Karnataka to help Congress."
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhuy further said, “After the victory of Congress in Karnataka, TMC started realizing that without Congress it is difficult to move forward in Bengal. The hold of the Congress in Bengal is getting stronger. Even after the victory in Karnataka, Mamata did not take the name of Rahul Gandhi."
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