With opposition unity at stake, Congress, TMC spar after Bengal MLA switch

New Delhi/Kolkata: A war of words broke out between the Congress and the TMC in West Bengal after the grand old party’s lone MLA defected to the state’s ruling party, accusing each other of working against opposition unity ahead of the 2024 general elections. Was accused. The Congress hit out at the Trinamool Congress, saying such “poaching” was not done to strengthen opposition unity and only served the BJP’s objectives. The TMC hit back, accusing the Congress of breaking faith in opposition unity.

The spat between the two parties assumes significance as it is happening at a time when efforts are on to form a united opposition to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress lost its lone MLA in the West Bengal Assembly, Byron Biswas, as he switched over to the ruling TMC on Monday. Vishwas joined the party in the presence of its general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Launching a scathing attack on the TMC, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Three months after he was elected as a Congress MLA in a historic victory, Byron Biswas has been wooed by the TMC in West Bengal.” Ramesh said on Twitter, this is a complete betrayal of the mandate of the people of Sagardighi assembly constituency.

“Such horse-trading that has happened earlier in Goa, Meghalaya, Tripura and other states is not designed to strengthen opposition unity and only serves the BJP’s objectives,” he said. On Ramesh’s remarks, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “We (opposition parties) are all together at the national level. All parties should understand that state parties have their own responsibilities. We have contested only from Meghalaya and Goa.” But when Congress contested elections. We did not disrupt in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. Instead of disrupting, we supported them.

He said, “That’s why I have no comment (about Ramesh’s remarks). Anyone can say anything. Yes an MLA joined…AAP (Congress) is a national party, BJP is a national party, It’s not just about winning.” elections but it is also for vote percentage through which we can become a national party,” she said at a press conference in Kolkata.

“That’s why we want to have our presence at three-four places so that we get the status of a national party. Why should they only get national party status, why not us,” the chief minister said. Hitting back at Ramesh, TMC MP Derek O’ Brien said, “‘Congress vows to fight Mamata Banerjee in Bengal despite Mamata Banerjee’s support’ statement from Congress two weeks ago. Congress breaks trust in opposition unity and Then expect a bouquet of roses! And about strengthening the BJP? Please grow up.”

Senior TMC leader Sukhendu Shekhar Roy said that Congress has to decide whom they want to fight. “They cannot claim that they are fighting against the BJP at the Center by opposing the TMC in Bengal. This double standard must stop. The policy of Kerala, where the CPI(M) and the Congress are at loggerheads but are allies.” At the Centre, will not work in West Bengal,” he told PTI. The CPI(M) and the Congress have forged an alliance in West Bengal and are fighting jointly against the TMC and the opposition BJP in the state.

TMC’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha claimed that Biswas joined the party because he felt “it is the only force that can fight against the BJP in Bengal”. “We don’t need to learn from the Congress on how to fight against the BJP. In Bengal, the Congress has allied with the CPI(M) and is fighting against us to help the BJP,” he said. At a ceremony to join the ruling party at Ghatal, Medinipur, Byrne claimed that the Congress played no part in his victory and that he won because of “my goodwill”.

Byron, a local ‘bidi’ baron, had won the Sagardighi seat by defeating his TMC rival in the by-poll earlier this year, sending shockwaves in the ruling camp. The MLA does not come under the purview of the anti-defection law as he is the sole representative of the Congress in the Assembly and his joining the TMC would mean a merger of the Congress Legislature Party with the larger TMC Legislature Party.

On Monday, Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also hit out at Biswas over his decorum, saying, “If we were not with you (Byron Biswas), you would not have been what you (MLA) are today.” Chowdhary had said that the TMC was scared after losing the Sagardighi bypoll and had used everything at its disposal to poach the Congress MLA. He also held TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee responsible for poaching MLAs from other parties.