'Congress aligned with BJP in Bengal': TMC rules out alliance with party, ‘but at national level…’
1 min read 17 Jun 2023, 05:25 PM ISTThe Trinamool Congress has ruled out an alliance with the Congress in West Bengal, but has suggested a national-level alliance with other parties to defeat the BJP. Opposition leaders will meet in Patna to decide on a common agenda for the Lok Sabha elections next week.
PremiumThe Trinamool Congress has ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the Congress in West Bengal ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. TMC leaders however broached the possibility of a national-level alliance with the other party.
TMC State Spokesperson Riju Dutta asserted that the other party was part of a “very unholy nexus" with the CPI(M) and that the two were aligned with the BJP in the state. He accused this grouping of “conspiring against TMC".
“So, there is no question of helping Congress and being in an alliance with them in Bengal. We don't need them in Bengal. But from national perspective, it is the need of the hour for all like-minded, secular parties to come together against this fascist, anti-people, anti-India, anti-constitutional BJP," he said.
Dutta said that the TMC's allegiance lay with the “people of Bengal" within the state.
“But nationally, to defeat BJP all like-minded parties are coming together," he added.
Opposition leaders have made several attempts to stitch an alliance together in recent months with middling success. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and senior Congress leaders such as Malliarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will also be attending the upcoming meet in Patna.
According to reports quoting sources from Bihar's ruling coalition, the upcoming Opposition meet will not discuss a possible prime ministerial candidate. Instead, it will focus on deciding the common agenda for the parties to work on in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
(With inputs from agencies)