NEW DELHI: The conflict between Congress and Trinamool Congress, allies of the Indian bloc, over a seat-sharing arrangement in West Bengal escalated on Wednesday as Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed her intention to contest independently in her state. The Trinamool supremo mentioned certain people who only showed up during elections, such as the spring Cuckoos, without mentioning any party or leader. “I don’t usually attend political events, but some parties make a lot of noise during election season. We shall not give up on the BJP. We’ll battle by ourselves. Trinamool Congress is the only party that can beat the BJP, Mamata stated, restating previous statements she made in Kolkata last week. The West Bengal chief minister’s remarks coincide with reports from Congress insiders that seat sharing negotiations in Bengal were merely on pause and that they were still trying to recruit Mamata as a possible ally. “Seat sharing in West Bengal among the INDIA bloc is halted. Congress and TMC are debating the suggestions. TMC remains a member of the INDIA Alliance, according to party sources. Additionally, party chief Jairam Ramesh made an effort to downplay any division between the Trinamool and the Congress. “On our end, nothing has been finalised as of yet. Every member of an alliance should speak with a single voice. Decisions cannot be made on one side only. Within the INDIA alliance, there are three parties. They should all make an official announcement if they intend to battle one another separately. According to Jairam Ramesh, “Up until now, we are thinking that the INDIA alliance will fight together in West Bengal as well.” Previously, Mamata Banerjee had effectively barred the Congress from Bengal by stating that the TMC will fight on its own. “I didn’t talk to the Congress party. We shall fight alone in Bengal, as I have always declared. The West Bengal Chief Minister had stated, “We are a secular party and we will defeat BJP alone in Bengal. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country.” In the meantime, sources close to the Congress party have also revealed that a 4-3 formula for seat sharing in Delhi is being worked out between the party and AAP. Delhi dispatches seven lawmakers to the Lok Sabha
