The Congress has reportedly rejected an alliance proposal from former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for the upcoming bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, deciding instead to contest the elections on its own.
According to reports, Mamata Banerjee had reached out to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal with a proposal for an electoral understanding. However, there has been no official confirmation from either party regarding the reported conversation.
The Congress has already announced its candidates for the high-stakes bypolls, signalling its decision to go solo in both constituencies.
‘Trinamool is a liability’
West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief Subhankar Sarkar said the party remained open to working with political forces ideologically opposed to the BJP. However, he indicated that an alliance with the Trinamool Congress could prove detrimental to the Congress at this stage.
Sarkar pointed to the ongoing dispute surrounding the Trinamool’s party symbol and suggested that any adverse development in the matter could affect the political momentum of a potential alliance.
He also said the Congress had witnessed the Trinamool’s recent political challenges and internal turmoil following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year.
According to reports, Mamata Banerjee had proposed that the Congress contest the Nandigram seat while seeking Congress support in Rejinagar, a minority-dominated Assembly constituency in Murshidabad.
Bypolls scheduled for October 6
The Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls are scheduled to be held on October 6 and are expected to be closely watched political contests.
Nandigram, in particular, is likely to witness an intense battle after the seat was vacated by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who retained the Bhabanipur seat in Kolkata, where he defeated Mamata Banerjee.
The bypolls will be the first major electoral test in West Bengal following the BJP’s rise to power in the state, with the Congress, Trinamool Congress and BJP expected to closely assess the political mood ahead of the contest.
