As the Trinamool Congress announces its decision to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, the Congress remains open to the possibility of an alliance with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC for the upcoming general elections.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary and in-charge of communications, expressed optimism regarding the coalition, highlighting Mamata Banerjee’s statement of being in the INDIA alliance with the priority of defeating the BJP.
Ramesh emphasized that talks are ongoing, and doors for collaboration have not been shut despite TMC’s unilateral decision to contest all seats in West Bengal. He stressed the significance of the joint opposition rally in Patna, Bihar, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. This rally symbolizes opposition unity aimed at countering the BJP and its allies.
Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress president and current Wayanad MP, altered his ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ to participate in the Patna rally, showcasing the importance accorded to opposition solidarity. Ramesh detailed Gandhi’s schedule adjustments, including an interaction on the Agniveer issue and a road show in Mohna, with the resumption of the yatra planned for the following day.
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Regarding the Lok Dal’s involvement in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, Ramesh differentiated between factions, asserting that the “real” Lok Dal, represented by posters of former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and Indira Gandhi, supported Rahul Gandhi during the yatra in Aligarh. He labelled the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) as the “nakli Lok Dal” for joining the BJP-led NDA after the government posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna on Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Ramesh also addressed speculations about Rahul Gandhi contesting from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, stating that the decision rests with Gandhi. He refrained from commenting on the BJP’s candidate list, emphasizing the Congress’s focus on finalizing its manifesto, candidates, and seats across different states.
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