In the aftermath of the recent assembly polls in three states, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has offered a unique perspective on the outcome, arguing that it reflects a defeat of the Congress rather than the will of the people.

Banerjee believes that the Congress party’s failure to form seat-sharing arrangements with regional INDIA members ultimately led to their loss in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.

Congress’ Loss Due to Lack of Seat-Sharing Arrangements

According to Mamata Banerjee, the Congress party would have emerged victorious in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan if they had established seat-sharing arrangements with INDIA parties. 

Banerjee argues that the presence of these regional parties divided the votes, ultimately benefiting the BJP. 

Her assertion raises questions about the importance of strategic alliances and seat-sharing arrangements in the Indian political landscape.

Banerjee emphasizes that in addition to having a strong ideological foundation, political parties must also adopt effective strategies to secure victory. 

She asserts that if the Congress had formed a seat-sharing arrangement, the BJP would not have come to power in 2024. 

Learning from Mistakes: The INDIA Alliance

In light of the Congress’ defeat in the recent assembly polls, Mamata Banerjee affirms that the INDIA alliance of opposition parties will learn from their mistakes and rectify them before the upcoming general election.

This acknowledgment of the need for self-reflection and improvement demonstrates Banerjee’s commitment to strengthening the opposition’s position and presenting a formidable challenge to the ruling party.

Division of Votes and BJP’s Advantage:

The Congress and its INDIA allies contested separately on many seats during the assembly elections, leading to a division of votes. 

This division, as many have pointed out, ultimately benefited the BJP, allowing them to secure victories in crucial states. 

Mamata Banerjee’s perspective shines a light on the consequences of fragmented opposition and the significance of unity in countering the ruling party.

As the election results pointed towards a BJP sweep, several INDIA allies voiced their discontent with the Congress’ approach during the campaign. Janata Dal-United’s KC Tyagi stated that the Congress “ignored other INDIA parties, but was unable to win on its own.” 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) echoed the sentiment, stressing the necessity of united resistance against the BJP in the Hindi heartland.