'You Couldn't Win Even 1 Seat': TMC Fires Back After Congress's 'Don't Want Mamata's Pity' Remark

Ghosh said that the ruling party in Bengal doesn't need Congress, but it is extending support to the grand old party due to the I.N.D.I.A. alliance. 

File photo of Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Thursday responded to West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's remarks on seat-sharing in Bengal for the Lok Sabha polls. He said that the ruling party in Bengal doesn't need Congress, but it is extending support to the grand old party due to the I.N.D.I.A. alliance. 

His remarks came after Chowdhury earlier today lashed out at Mamata's rumoured offer of 2 of the state's 42 Lok Sabha seats to the Congress, saying those constituencies are already with the Congress. 

Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said, "In the 2021 Assembly Elections, TMC fought alone and came to power, whereas Congress allied with the Left and won zero seats... Nobody needs Congress in WB. But for the spirit of the INDIA alliance, TMC is supporting Congress and Mamata Banerjee will make the final call... When Mamta Banerjee offered them two seats in Bengal for the upcoming elections, they said they wanted eight. I want to ask them, you had 294 seats in the Assembly Elections, why didn't you win on any?" 

#WATCH | Kolkata, WB: On Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "... In the 2021 Assembly Elections, TMC fought alone and came to power, whereas Congress allied with the Left and won zero seats... Nobody needs Congress in WB. But for the spirit of the… pic.twitter.com/P0q0Gxjsk1

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024

The TMC has reportedly proposed two seats for the Congress to contest in the upcoming general elections.

Addressing a press conference in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan said, "The real intention of Mamata Banerjee is out. They are saying that they (TMC) will give two seats (to Congress) in West Bengal. Those seats already have Congress MPs. What new are they giving us? We won these two seats by defeating Mamata Banerjee and the BJP. What favour are they doing to us? Who will trust her (Mamata Banerjee)? It is Mamata who needs Congress to win... Congress can fight and is capable of winning more seats on its own. We will show. We don't need to keep these two seats on Mamata's pity..."

With little time left for the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc parties last met on December 19, 2023, and decided to finalise seat-sharing as soon as possible.

At the meeting, some leaders also proposed Mallikarjun Kharge's name as the prime ministerial face of the coalition, but the Congress chief said it is important to win first and the leadership issue can then be decided "democratically".