Congress to Go Solo in Bengal Bypolls as Trinamool Alliance Bid Fails
Congress will contest the Bengal bypolls alone after Mamata Banerjee's alliance outreach went unanswered, with the state unit calling Trinamool a liability.
The Congress has decided to contest the coming Bengal bypolls on its own, leaving Mamata Banerjee's alliance proposal for the two seats without a response. Reports indicate the Trinamool Congress chief had telephoned Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal to discuss an arrangement, but did not receive a call back.
The Congress was the first party in the state to announce its candidates for the Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls, signalling its intent to fight solo.
West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Subhankar Sarkar said the party has not closed its doors to forces ideologically opposed to the BJP, but argued that the Trinamool currently poses a risk to any joint front. He pointed to the ongoing dispute over the Trinamool's symbol, noting that if the party were to lose it, the resulting loss of momentum would also hurt the Congress.
Sarkar also referred to the BJP's efforts to build what he described as a shadow opposition, and said that while the Congress remains open to cooperation, any support would have to be unconditional and directed to the Congress.
Reports suggest Banerjee had offered the Nandigram seat to the Congress in exchange for backing for Rejinagar in Murshidabad, a minority-dominated assembly constituency.
The bypoll, scheduled for October 6, will be the first since the BJP came to power in the state and is expected to draw intense attention. Nandigram carries particular prestige for the BJP, as the seat was vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after he retained Bhabanipur, where he had defeated Mamata Banerjee. The last date for filing nominations is tomorrow.