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Congress Denies TMC Nandigram Bypoll Offer Amid Political Tensions
A Congress leader said the TMC asked Congress to contest the Nandigram election.
He said the TMC would then focus on another seat called Rejinagar.
Congress leaders reportedly decided not to make a deal with the TMC.
They believe the Congress should grow on its own in West Bengal.
The TMC denied that it made this offer.
Nandigram is important because a movement there helped the TMC defeat the Left Front in 2011.
Mamata Banerjee lost Nandigram in 2021 to Suvendu Adhikari.
Adhikari later gave up the seat, creating the bypoll.
Several parties and rebel candidates are now competing for the constituency.
Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya claimed the TMC offered to leave Nandigram to Congress while contesting Rejinagar.
Bhattacharya said Congress leaders rejected an alliance because they wanted to maintain distance from the TMC.
TMC leader Kunal Ghosh denied that any such proposal had been made.
The Nandigram bypoll was required after Suvendu Adhikari vacated the seat and retained Bhabanipur.
Congress, TMC, BJP and rebel candidates are contesting Nandigram, a constituency central to the TMC’s rise.
- Who
- The Trinamool Congress, the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and rebel candidates are involved; the reported claim was made by Pradip Bhattacharya and denied by Kunal Ghosh.
- What
- A Congress leader alleged that the TMC proposed an informal seat arrangement involving the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Nandigram in West Bengal and a proposed arrangement involving Rejinagar in Murshidabad district.
- When
- The alleged contact reportedly occurred about 15 days before the bypoll schedule was announced; the Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
- Why
- The alleged arrangement was reportedly intended to divide the contests, while Congress leaders opposed it because they wanted to avoid helping the TMC and expand independently.
Congress Leaders’ Account
TMC’s Denial
Whether an offer was made
Congress Leaders’ Account
Pradip Bhattacharya and Congress sources said the TMC approached Congress leaders with a proposed Nandigram-Rejinagar arrangement.
TMC’s Denial
Kunal Ghosh said no such proposal was on the table.
Whether Congress should cooperate
Congress Leaders’ Account
Congress leaders argued that the party should keep the TMC at arm’s length and use the opportunity to occupy political space lost to it.
TMC’s Denial
The TMC’s alleged outreach, as described by Congress sources, indicated a possible interest in avoiding a difficult contest in Nandigram and concentrating on Rejinagar.
Future alliance prospects
Congress Leaders’ Account
West Bengal Congress leaders reportedly believe an alliance would weaken the party’s independent growth.
TMC’s Denial
The article describes Mamata Banerjee as increasingly dependent on Congress and the INDIA alliance after the TMC’s electoral setbacks, though no state-level agreement was confirmed.
Key facts
- Nandigram bypoll
- Scheduled for October 6.
- Reported proposal
- Congress would contest Nandigram while the TMC contested Rejinagar.
- Congress response
- Senior West Bengal Congress leaders reportedly rejected an alliance or electoral understanding with the TMC.
- TMC response
- Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh denied that any proposal was made.
- Nandigram candidates
- The TMC fielded Sanchita Pradhan, Congress fielded Milan Pradhan, BJP fielded Hasirani Rath, and TMC rebels fielded Mohammad Eteshamul Haque.
- Previous election result
- Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 by 1,956 votes.
- Reason for bypoll
- Adhikari vacated Nandigram and retained Bhabanipur.
Quotes
Senior Congress leader
An unnamed senior Congress leader quoted by the article
“The party high command sought time and subsequently consulted state leaders about the proposal. The state leadership felt that this was not the right time for an alliance. It can be considered when the time is appropriate, but not now. This is the correct decision.”
indianexpress.com
“At many places, TMC workers are joining the Congress. The TMC is in disarray. Why should we help the TMC stand up?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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