FEB-3, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked the Congress to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Hindi heartland state. But she questioned the Congress Party’s ability to secure ‘even 40 seats’ in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, hours after Rahul Gandhi expressed optimism about resolving the seat-sharing impasse in the state.
Banerjee’s comments followed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that seat-sharing talks with the ruling Trinamool Congress were underway and the issue would be resolved.
Ms. Banerjee has termed the Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodh Nyay Yatra’ passing through six districts of Bengal as a ‘mere photo’ of ‘migratory birds’ aimed at polarizing minority votes in the state. She strongly criticized the incident, comparing it to “a photo opportunity.”
“I suggested to the Congress to contest 300 seats (across the country where the BJP is the main opposition party) but they refused to listen to it. Now they are trying to incite Muslim voters. They’re coming to this state.” “If they contest 300 seats, I don’t think they can even secure 40 seats,” Banerjee argued.
Speaking at a dharna in Kolkata demanding exemption from state contributions by the Centre, Ms. Banerjee reiterated her party’s desire to forge an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Sabah elections in West Bengal. Stressed that it is a great old one. The party who rejected their offer.
“We were open to the alliance and offered them her 2 seats, but they rejected it.” Now let’s let them compete for all 42 seats on their own . Since then there has been no dialogue between us. We will fight alone and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bengal,” she said.
Her comments came a day after Rahul Gandhi addressed the party’s “digital media warriors” in West Bengal and expressed optimism about resolving the seat-sharing impasse.