Mamata Banerjee, who had seemingly put her membership in the INDIA bloc on pause, announced on Wednesday that she would offer “outside support” if the group wins the 2024 Lok Sabha election. On Thursday, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress’ Bengal chief, commented on the uncertainty surrounding Banerjee’s membership in the INDIA bloc, moments before she reaffirmed her commitment to the opposition group, which she referred to as her “brainchild.”
Regarding Banerjee’s statement about providing “outside support,” Chowdhury said, “I don’t trust her… she left the alliance. She could also go towards the BJP.” He added, “What she will do from outside or inside… I don’t know. That you have to ask her. But I don’t trust her. She quit the coalition; she might even run for the BJP.”
Chowdhury, who has a contentious history with Banerjee, noted that her recent comments came after polling for nearly 70 percent of Lok Sabha seats, with the opposition bloc claiming significant progress against the BJP. “They (the BJP) were talking about destroying Congress and that Congress would not get 40 seats… but now what she is saying means Congress and INDIA are coming to power,” he remarked, implying that Banerjee’s shift in attitude came from a recognition that the BJP might lose.
Banerjee had previously suspended her participation in the bloc after disputes over seat-sharing. However, she declared she would provide “outside support” if the opposition won, aiming to support Bengal’s mothers, sisters, and those in 100-day job schemes.
In a poll rally in Tamluk, Banerjee reiterated, “I am very much part of INDIA… it was my brainchild. We are together at the national level and will continue to be together.” She clarified, though, that she does not consider the Congress’ state unit and the CPM as allies, accusing them of unofficially siding with the BJP.
Earlier this year, amid seat-share negotiations, Banerjee refused to cede more seats to Congress than she deemed necessary, citing the Congress’ poor performance in the 2019 election. She argued her party had the best chance to defeat the BJP in Bengal, which has 42 Lok Sabha seats. After tense discussions, Banerjee walked away from the bloc in February following failed seat-share talks with Congress’ Delhi unit and a perceived snub from Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.’
Despite this, Chowdhury continued to criticize the Trinamool, asserting that Banerjee owed her success to the Congress’ “mercy.” He opposed any alliance with Banerjee and the Trinamool.
The battle for Bengal remains fierce, with the BJP determined to gain ground after its successes in the 2019 general election and the 2021 state poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Banerjee have exchanged sharp attacks on contentious issues like the citizenship law. Voting in Bengal will continue in the remaining phases, with results expected on June 4.
