In a strategic move, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has reportedly offered two Lok Sabha seats to its INDIA bloc ally, the Congress, for the upcoming 2024 elections in West Bengal. Sources reveal that TMC Chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee emphasizes the ruling party’s prerogative in finalizing seat distribution.
Despite proposing a December 31 deadline for seat-sharing arrangements, TMC has not yet made an official announcement. The seat-sharing formula reportedly considers both state assembly and parliamentary elections. In the INDIA bloc meeting held on December 20, Mamata Banerjee and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal proposed Mallikarjun Kharge as the face of the bloc for the PM post.
Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav expressed confidence that the seat-sharing issue within the INDIA coalition will be resolved smoothly. He acknowledged Nitish Kumar’s experience and suggested him as a suitable convenor for the coalition.
Despite losing national party status, TMC continues to exert influence in Bengal, highlighted by its success in rural polls. The party aims to play a pivotal role in the national opposition alliance INDIA leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
On January 4, the Congress is scheduled to hold a meeting of state unit chiefs and legislative party leaders in Delhi to discuss Lok Sabha poll preparations and Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Nyay Yatra.’ The yatra is set to commence on January 14 from Manipur to Mumbai, marking Rahul Gandhi’s second such journey after Bharat Jodo Yatra last year.
As political maneuvers unfold and alliances take shape, stay tuned for updates on the evolving political landscape.