New Delhi: Amid cracks in the I.N.D.I.A bloc on seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections and rising differences between the partners coming to the fore, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress, saying that the grand old party will have to accept the ‘ground reality’ in the state if it has to enter into a seat-allotment deal with the ruling party in West Bengal.
Accusing the Congress of helping the BJP find a foothold in the state, Ghosh said, “The state unit of the Congress has been taking pot shots at us while giving oxygen to the BJP and helping them find a firm foothold here. This won’t work. We are ready to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats here. The Congress has to agree on a seat-sharing on the basis of the ground reality in the state. However, they are resorting to the politics of pressure instead. CM Mamata Banerjee will take the final call (on an alliance in Bengal).”
“Trinamool Congress is fully prepared to fight election in 42 seats in West Bengal but just giving the respect to the spirit of I.N.D.I. alliance, Mamata Banerjee is waiting to take the final decision,” Ghosh added.
Kunal Ghosh’s remarks come a day after the TMC supremo said the party will go it alone in all 42 Lok Sabha seats if it is not accorded “due importance”.
"Our party supremo Mamata Banerjee clearly stated that the TMC is one of the most important partners of the INDIA bloc. But in Bengal, if RSP, CPI, CPI(M) are given more importance by excluding us, we will carve our own path, and preparations should be made to fight and win in all the 42 seats," said a senior TMC leader told PTI on condition of anonymity.