"I insist . . .": Mamata Banerjee To Congress On Lok Sabha Seats (Image: facebook.com/MamataBanerjeeOfficial/)

While addressing a public meeting at the Park Circus Maidan on Monday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended the idea of regional leaders leading the fight against the BJP in specific regions and suggested that Congress contest the 300 Lok Sabha seats independently. Besides, she expressed her disappointment with the India alliance grouping by alleging that CPI (M) is attempting to control their agenda.

Mamata Banerjee said: “I insist that particular regions should be left to regional parties. They (Congress) can fight on 300 (Lok Sabha) seats alone, and I will help them. I will not contest those seats. But, they are adamant about doing what they want,” NDTV quotes as she is saying.

TMC chief”s statements was following her assertion during internal party meeting that the party is all set to contest independently in all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, if were not given “due importance”. Without naming Congress, Mamata Banerjee criticised the party for delaying seat-sharing discussions in West Bengal.

Furthermore, one of the ardent supporters of the INDIA alliance, she expressed her strong displeasure with Left front controlling the agenda of the bloc meetings.

“I suggested the name INDIA during a meeting of the opposition bloc. But whenever I attend the coalition”s meetings, I find the Left trying to gain control. This is not acceptable. I cannot agree with those with whom I had fought for 34 years,” NDTV quotes as she is saying. She then added that though she encountered such insults, she has adjusted and attended the bloc meetings.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee”s comments opened sharp reactions from Congress and CPI(M). Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: “We cannot comment on the whims and fancies of the TMC leadership. Let them do whatever they feel like,” NDTV reports. CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty dismissed the allegations TMC supremo raising against the party and called it as “baseless”.

Mamata Banerjee”s meeting at Park Circus Maidan was the culmination of an “all-faith harmony rally” led by her in response to the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi”s inauguration of the event.