O’Brien was giving assurances on his party’s behalf to the INDIA bloc members in Delhi’s historical Ramlila Maidan, at the same time West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee’s struck a different tone in Nadia, stating that her party is fighting against the Congress and accused the grand old party as well as CPI(M) of indirectly supporting the BJP.Despite O’Brien’s affirmation that “TMC is very much was, is and will be part of the INDIA alliance,” Banerjee, back at home, emphasized that “Voting for Congress means voting for BJP,” implying a strategic divergence from Congress. She further claimed that the TMC is contesting against the alliance of CPM-BJP-Congress, denouncing any formal coalition formation.
“Congress is contesting the elections in alliance with the Left here. Voting for them means voting for BJP,” West Bengal Chief Minister said.
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee further mentioned that it is fighting against the alliance of the CPM-BJP-Congress. “We are fighting alone. I have heard that the CPM and Congress are saying that they are fighting as part of the INDIA alliance. Here, no alliance has been formed. Here a scam has happened. The CPM-BJP-Congress are on one side and the Trinamool is on the other side,” Mamata Banerjee said.
Chief Minister Banerjee also said that Congress and CPI(M) is extending support to BJP which is “riotous” party. “Do you remember Bilkis Bano’s case? Do you remember the Hathras incident? Do you remember the riots in Gujarat? So remember, BJP is a riotous party and Congress, CPM have supported them,” she said. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh sought to clarify the party’s position, saying that his party is totally committed with the INDIA bloc at the national level but in Bengal, Congress and CPM are giving advantage to the BJP.