“I share very good terms with Mamata Banerjee…” Rahul Gandhi dismisses chinks in INDIA bloc, welcomes parties to join his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Dismissing rumours of growing differences between Congress and Trinamool Congress, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that talks are on with Mamata Banerjee’s TMC over seat sharing for the state of Bengal. The senior Congress leader who is on his two-month-long ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from Manipur to Mumbai, also stressed that he personally has very good terms with Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo.

“The seat-sharing talks are on. I personally and the Congress party share very good terms with Mamata Banerjee. These things happen. At times someone from our party says something, at other times someone from their party says something. But then such things will not disrupt the process and our terms,” said Rahul Gandhi during a press conference, rejecting speculations of a complete breakdown between the two parties as part of the INDIA alliance bloc.

Trinamool Congress had initially set a deadline of December 31, 2023, for seat-sharing talks to get through but that never happened and both parties have maintained silence over who is asking for how many out of 42 total Lok Sabha seats in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee since the second INDIA alliance meeting has been asking for the seat-sharing equation to be finalised at the earliest. But the talks have been marred with delays, primarily because of assembly elections of five states last year including Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana where Congress had been the principal party against BJP.

“I have the courage to take on the BJP but they are not letting me fight. I have told them to fight in 300 seats where they are strong and I will support them, not contest there but they should let strong regional parties fight the battle. But they are saying they will do what they want. Am I here to tackle commands? I feel humiliated…”, Mamata Banerjee had said on Monday reiterating her position that regional parties, whoever is strong wherever should be allowed to take on BJP for a one-is-to-one fight, ensuring less possibilities of vote fragmentation.

Trinamool Congress had also expressed dismay over Congress Leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhury’s remarks on Mamata Banerjee, calling them against the spirit of alliance partnership. Choudhury had slammed TMC over media reports that claimed TMC was not willing to share more than 2 seats with Congress. Later during an internal meeting, Mamata Banerjee had asked her leaders to gear up for a fight in all 42 seats including Behrampore, the seat of Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, almost throwing a dare before the Congress.

Rahul Gandhi however has negated loose talks about any leader being able to puncture the alliance possibilities between partner parties. When asked about INDIA bloc parties joining his Yatra, he said that all partner parties have been invited to participate in the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ when it crosses their respective state. “We have invited everyone. I have personally invited, the Congress president has invited all the partner parties. Whoever wants to come, is most welcome. Our invitation is there and the doors are open,” he added.