While the national Congress leadership continued to engage in diplomatic discussions with Mamata Banerjee, emphasising the Bengal Chief Minister’s significance within the INDIA alliance, the Trinamool Congress persistently displayed its hostility by protesting against the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as it entered Bengal on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Left Front acted swiftly and strategically to bridge the widening gap between the TMC and Congress, participating in the Yatra as it transitioned from Assam to Coochbehar.
In Coochbehar’s Baxirhaat, TMC supporters staged protests against the Yatra, chanting slogans against the Congress. They expressed, “Didi (Mamata) is sufficient for us here, and we do not need any outsiders in Bengal.” Rahul Gandhi, still considered the final authority in his party, patiently listened to their concerns, said, “I have come to hear your grievances and to stand by you against the hatred being spread by RSS and BJP.” He refrained from speaking against the TMC supporters.
In an apparent attempt to soothe the ruffled sentiments of Banerjee, who was discontented with the demeanor of Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury, another senior AICC leader, Jairam Ramesh, reiterated that the Chief Minister was an “important” component in the INDIA wheel, consistently highly regarded by the party’s national leadership.
“We would like and anticipate Mamata ji to join our Yatra, even if only for 10-15 minutes as it crosses Bengal,” Ramesh stated, emphasising the good relationship between the two parties and expressing confidence in resolving their differences soon.
Subsequently, Gandhi had to hastily depart for Delhi from the Hansimara military airport, citing “urgent work.” However, the Congress leaders did not delve into whether this “urgent work” had any connection to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who reportedly had been in touch with the BJP leadership.
Interestingly, on Wednesday, Banerjee stated that the Congress had not extended an invitation to her, while both Rahul Gandhi and Ramesh claimed that an invitation had indeed been sent to Banerjee. “They did not even have the courtesy to invite us to the Yatra while it was passing through my state,” Banerjee remarked, whereas Gandhi had mentioned a day earlier, “My party and I share a good relationship with Mamata ji, and we have even invited her to join the Yatra.”
Meanwhile, the Marxists took swift action, with their senior leader from North Bengal, Jibesh Sarkar, joining the Congress’ Yatra in Siliguri along with a large number of his followers. The Congress promptly welcomed the Left leaders, according to sources.
When asked about their participation in the Yatra, Sarkar, a CPI(M) State Committee member, stated that his party was invited, and they decided to join against the BJP’s communal and undemocratic politics.
“We are against the BJP’s policy to divide the electorate and TMC’s goondaism and corruption and so we have joined the Yatra after being invited,” a senior Marxist leader said.