No Deal, Says Mamata: Demands Congress-CPI(M) Split for Alliance in Bengal

Malda: Tensions within the INDIA bloc flared anew on Wednesday as Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee declared that her party won’t partner with the Congress unless they sever ties with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). This fresh demand throws a wrench into efforts to forge a united front against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Banerjee, addressing a gathering in Malda, accused the CPM of orchestrating physical attacks on her in the past and declared, “I can never forgive the Left, I can never forgive the CPM… those who are with CPM today, they can also be with the BJP. I won’t forgive them.”

This outburst comes on the heels of failed seat-sharing negotiations between the TMC and Congress. Banerjee revealed she offered the Congress two Lok Sabha seats in Malda, where they lack any current assembly representation, but the offer was rejected.

“They [Congress] wanted more seats,” she stated, “so I told them I won’t give you a single seat until you leave the company of the Left.” This ultimatum underscores the deep-seated animosity between the TMC and CPM, making a pre-poll alliance seem increasingly unlikely.

The Congress leadership scrambled to contain the fallout, emphasizing the importance of Mamata Banerjee in any potential opposition alliance. However, Banerjee’s remarks suggest the issue is far from resolved.

This mirrors similar power struggles between regional parties and the Congress across India. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh are also charting their own paths, raising concerns about the viability of a unified opposition front against the BJP.