“Our priority is to fight the BJP”: Jairam Ramesh urges unity, responding to Mamata Banerjee’s “40 seats” jibe at Congress

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday replied to Mamata Banerjee’s scathing remark stating that she doubts if the grand old party would be able to secure even 40 seats in the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“We are assuming that Mamata Banerjee is still a part of the INDIA group, a group of 27 parties which have formed the alliance. Her priority, she claims, is to fight the BJP. Our priority is also to fight the BJP," said Jairam Ramesh, underscoring the need to create a united front against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "I think it’s better if we all come together. I think we should realize that this is not local-level elections,” added Jairam Ramesh.

Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday slammed Congress, saying that she doubts if the grand old party would be able to bag even 40 seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “I doubt if Congress will even win 40 seats. I did not ask for anything from them, out of goodwill, I was offering two seats and would ensure that they won. But they wanted more. I said okay, contest in all 42 then. Rejected! We have not spoken on seat sharing since then,” said Banerjee, challenging the grand old party to defeat BJP in places like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

On Friday, Mamata Banerjee sharpened her attack on the Congress while addressing a political gathering in Krishnanagar; she reiterated her "fight solo" stance from Bengal, shunning all possibilities of allying with Congress. "We wanted to forge an alliance with the Congress at the state level, but, Congress decided to form an alliance with CPIM in Bengal and help the BJP. I will not associate myself with CPIM, neither will I associate myself with the BJP," said the Trinamool Congress Supremo.

So far, the Congress has maintained that the Trinamool Congress and the Congress share amicable terms and the seat-sharing equation in Bengal would be settled, however, Mamata Banerjee has “rejected” the idea of seat-sharing with Congress in her state.