The Chhattisgarh

Tag: Congress

  • On BJP’s White Paper, Congress Mulling ‘Black Paper’ Move Against Modi Government |

    The Congress party is planning to bring a ‘Black Paper’ against the BJP government after the ruling party said it will present a ‘White Paper’ on earlier UPA government’s economic mismanagement. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to present the report. As the government plans to present the white paper, the ongoing budget session of the Lok Sabha has been extended until Saturday, February 10. There will be no Question Hour session on the extended date. As per a Lok Sabha Secretariat notification issued on Wednesday, extension of the current session of Lok Sabha, as announced by the Chair today (7.2.2024) and agreed to by the House, the current session of Lok Sabha has been extended up to Saturday, February 10, 2024, in order to provide sufficient time for completion of essential items of Government Business.

    The BJP has planned to present the White Paper which will show the mismanagement of the economy by the earlier UPA government and the steps taken by the Modi government to improve the situation. It may be notable that under PM Narendra Modi, the Indian economy has become the fifth largest in the world from 11th in 2014.

    The last session before Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year was started with the address by President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of two Houses on January 31. It was earlier to be concluded on February 9.

    Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, stated that his party is prepared to address any papers the government brings to the House. “Narendra Modi has Congressphobia. We are ready to fight. The government can bring a ‘White Paper’, Red paper, black paper, we have no problem. However, Mehul Choksi’s papers should also be presented to the House,” Chowdhury told ANI.

    Welcoming the idea of bringing a ‘White Paper’ to the House, BJP Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that the document is a much-awaited call and should be brought so that the public becomes aware of the corruption that occurred during the UPA tenure before 2014. “The government has passed the finance bill and the interim budget. If I recall correctly, the PM mentioned in his speech that they would present a White Paper on the mess that prevailed prior to 2014. I think it is likely to be listed tomorrow. It is a much-awaited call,” said Rudy.

  • PM Modi Calls Himself ‘Sabse Bada OBC,’ Accuses Congress Of Indulging In Hypocrisy |

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a fiery response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Parliament on Monday, proudly proclaimed himself as ‘Sabse Bada OBC,’ slamming the Congress for what he termed as ”hypocrisy” and ”double standards” in dealing with leaders from Backward communities.

    Congress Insulted Karpoori Thakur, OBC Leaders: PM

    In a scathing attack on the Congress, PM Modi accused the party of disrespecting Karpoori Thakur, a stalwart from Bihar who dedicated his life to democratic principles and constitutional values. He highlighted the recent conferment of Bharat Ratna on Thakur, underscoring the challenges he faced during his tenure as Bihar CM in 1970.

    “Congress party and UPA government did not deliver justice with OBCs. A few days ago, Karpoori Thakur ji was conferred with Bharat Ratna. In 1970, when he became Bihar CM, what was not done to destabilise his government? Congress can’t tolerate OBCs…They keep counting how many OBCs are there in the government. Can’t you (Congress) see the biggest OBC here (pointing towards himself)?” PM Modi said in his reply to the ‘Motion of Thanks’ on the President’s address.

     

    #WATCH | “Can’t you (Congress) see the biggest OBC here?….” asks PM Modi to Congress.

    “Congress party and UPA govt did not do justice with OBCs. A few days ago, Karpoori Thakur ji was conferred with Bharat Ratna. In 1970, when he became Bihar CM, what not was done to… pic.twitter.com/AqMemfzLNw
    — ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

     

    UPA’s Injustice To OBCs

    Continuing his offensive, PM Modi criticized the UPA government for failing to deliver justice to OBCs. He pointed out the formation of the National Advisory Council during their tenure, questioning its lack of OBC representation and influence. “During the UPA Government, an extra-constitutional body was formed. The government could not have its way before that body. National Advisory Council – did it have any OBC members? Find out,” he added.

    Inflation Legacy Of Congress: PM

    PM Modi delved into history, linking Congress to inflation. He recalled popular songs during Congress governance – ‘Mehngai Mar Gayi’ and ‘Mehngai Dayain Khaye Jaat Hai.’ Blaming Congress for inflation during their rule, he highlighted the insensitivity of their approach. “Two songs on inflation were superhits in our country – ‘Mehngai Mar Gayi’ and ‘Mehngai Dayain Khaye Jaat Hai’. Both of these songs came during Congress’ governance. Inflation was in double digits during UPA’s tenure, it can’t be denied. What was their government’s logic? Insensitivity. They said – you can have expensive ice creams but why do you cry about inflation?… Whenever Congress came to power, it strengthened inflation,” he added.

    Lok Sabha Adopts Motion Of Thanks 

    Lok Sabha adopted the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address after PM Modi’s impassioned response, where he not only lambasted the opposition but also outlined the government’s achievements. The motion passed through a voice vote, concluding a spirited debate with over 60 members participating.

    Budget Session Dynamics

    The ongoing budget session, possibly the last before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in April-May, witnessed President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of the two Houses, setting the tone for the upcoming political events.

  • Chandigarh Mayoral Polls: Supreme Court Says `Won`t Allow Murder Of Democracy`

    The apex court also ordered the preservation of the entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

  • With ‘GYAN’, BJP Clears Its 2024 Poll Strategy To Counter Congress’ Caste Census Plank |

    Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s pitch for caste-based census across the country in a bid to counter BJP’s Hindutva poll plank, the saffron party has played two major cards – one was ‘poor’ caste and now the ‘GYAN’. Reacting to the opposition’s demand for a caste census, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during assembly polls in November that there is only one caste for the government and that is ‘poor people’. He said that the NDA government has been working for the welfare of this caste.

    Now, two months later, ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that ‘GYAN’ encompasses the Modi government’s four main focus points. Explaining ‘GYAN’, FM Sitharaman said that G stands for ‘Garib’ (Poor), Y for ‘Yuva’ (Youth), A for ‘Annadata’ (Farmer) and N for ‘Nari’ (Women). She said that PM Modi believes in focusing on these four ‘castes’ and the government is committed to the progress of these four sections. While some may have taken it lightly, this is a broader narrative on which the Modi government is working and is wooing the voters of this section.

    The government has already been running various programs for these four sections and some of them are the SAUBHAGYA electricity scheme, Ujjwala LPG cylinder scheme, Skill India or Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), promotion of sports through TOPS and Khelo India, and Kisan Samman Nidhi. These are just some of the schemes of the Modi government that cater to these four sections and if taken a holistic view, any poor family. 

    Women and youth form a majority of the Indian voters and the NDA government has been able to keep this section happy in the 2019 polls and the continuation of such schemes is likely to help the ruling party in the upcoming polls as well. Congress, which has been talking about caste-based census each day ahead of the assembly polls in November, has not only toned down on the issue but now talks about it very rarely. Most probably, the grand old party may have realised that the narrative did not work in its favour and rather gave the BJP a chance to further highlight the schemes run by its government. Now, the question here is, can Congress find a fix to BJP’s ‘GYAN’ and ‘poor’ caste narrative? In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress is not only facing an issue on the alliance front but it will have to find poll planks that resonate with the common people.

  • 2024 Lok Sabha Polls: Mamata Banerjee’s Googly, Mallikarjun Kharge’s Modi Remark Show Congress Party’s Acceptance Of Defeat |

    Seven months into INDIA Bloc’s formation and the grouping has started to disintegrate despite their common resolve to fight the BJP together. Be it Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or Samajwadi Party, they have given a serious reason to Congress to think for its future strategy. While Mamata Banerjee gave a fresh scare to Congress saying that the grand old party would not even win 40 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Kharge while taking a jibe at the BJP inside the Rajya Sabha, said that it was because of Modi that BJP leaders were seating inside Parliament. 

    While Kharge was taking a jibe at the BJP saying that ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’ ho raha hai, he added that it was because of Narendra Modi that the saffron party got victory. This was one of the rare acceptances by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge indicating that the grand old party has conceded defeat much before the polls and is now only trying to hold the ground that it managed to retain in the 2019 polls.

    Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and Bhagwant Mann in Punjab have already refused to share seats with Congress. Samajwadi Party has already sent a veiled warning to the Congress by announcing names of 16 candidates including one from the Lucknow seat, that the Congress was demanding. Apart from Maharashtra, the Congress is yet to finalize its seat sharing with other allies and the party’s key leader Rahul Gandhi is busy carrying out solo Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. 

    On the other hand, the BJP has already managed its Hindi belt votes by breaking away Nitish Kumar in Bihar from the INDIA bloc, winning Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. With multiple visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the saffron party is also looking to improve its performance in South India, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The party is likely to do well in Karnataka and Telangana despite the opposition governments there. 

    With each passing day, the Congress is losing the opportunity to present a better counter to the BJP and the consequent delay in seat sharing and candidate announcement may hurt the INDIA bloc badly. 

  • Amid Nitish Kumar’s Flip-Flop, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Enters Bihar |

    NEW DELHI: The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, spearheaded by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, received a warm welcome as it entered Bihar on Monday, marking a significant juncture in its journey to mobilize public backing ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In a sharp rebuke aimed at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Jairam Ramesh, a prominent figure within the Congress party, denounced the former’s move to ditch the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ ruling coalition in Bihar, labelling him as a ‘girgit’ (chameleon) for his selfish political manoeuvring.

     

    #WATCH | Congress’ ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ enters Bihar, party leader Jairam Ramesh says, “After Nitish Kumar’s betrayal yesterday, the people of Kishanganj, Bihar are giving a great welcome to Rahul Gandhi and the Yatra. We had invited Mamata ji and also Nitish ji but he turned… pic.twitter.com/yNW7v5YkIo


    — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2024

     

    The Yatra, a strategic move by the Congress ahead of the impending Lok Sabha polls, gained momentum as it traversed through Manipur, Northeast India, and West Bengal, culminating in its entry into Bihar. Rahul Gandhi’s presence in the state marks his first visit since the 2020 Assembly elections, reflecting the party’s renewed focus on the region.

    Nitish Kumar’s move to switch alliances according to his political interests has stirred controversy, with his recent realignment with the BJP-led NDA prompting criticism from erstwhile allies and opposition parties alike. The Congress’s alliance partners in Bihar, including the RJD and CPI(ML)-L, have been invited to join forces in a rally aimed at addressing Kumar’s political volte-face.

    During public addresses scheduled as part of the Nyay Yatra’s Bihar leg, Rahul Gandhi is anticipated to target Nitish Kumar over his latest political somersault. The Congress’s vehement reaction to Kumar’s alliance shift underscores the volatile political climate in the state.

    Meanwhile, the JDU has accused the Congress of attempting to hijack the political narrative, citing arrogance as a driving force behind the breakdown of the INDIA alliance. Nitish Kumar’s resignation as Chief Minister further underscores the discord within the political landscape, with implications for the broader INDIA platform.

    The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, projected as a national movement for justice, began from Manipur’s Thoubal, spanning over 6,700 kilometres across 110 districts, and will culminate in Mumbai. This ambitious yatra signifies Congress’s concerted effort to galvanize public sentiment and consolidate support nationwide before the General Elections. 

  • ‘Public Will Teach Him A Lesson…’: Sharad Pawar Blasts Nitish Kumar For Breaking Away From INDIA Bloc |

    Mumbai: Attacking Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for dumping the Mahagathbandhan and switching his side to the NDA, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that the public will teach a lesson to the JD (U) chief in the future. Speaking to ANI, Pawar, however, said that he has no idea why Nitish Kumar took the step to forge his alliance with the NDA.

    “On the contrary, he was playing a role against the BJP. I don’t know what happened suddenly, but the public will definitely teach him a lesson for his role in the future…” he said. Pawar, the chief of the NCP, a party among others in the INDIA bloc, said that such a situation had never been seen before in such a short period of time.

    “Whatever happened in Patna, such a situation was never seen before in such a short period of time…I remember it was Nitish Kumar who had called all the non-BJP parties to Patna…His role was also similar but what happened in the last 10-15 days that he left this ideology and today he joined BJP and formed the government…In the last 10 days, it did not seem that he would take such a step,” Pawar added.

    JDU leader Nitish Kumar’s move to end his alliance with the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal to revive his tie-up with the BJP comes as a massive setback to the INDIA bloc months before it takes on the formidable BJP in Lok Sabha polls.

    Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.

    On Sunday, Nitish Kumar took the oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for the ninth time in Raj Bhawan, Patna, switching sides again, this time with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

    It was for the second time in two years that Nitish Kumar had jumped the ship, his fifth crossover in a little over a decade, preceding his ninth time as chief minister.

    Two Deputy CMs from the BJP, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and six other ministers, including Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Santosh Kumar Suman, Shrawan Kumar, and others, also took the oath today.

    Nitish Kumar cited the state of affairs being “not right” under the Mahagathbandhan alliance as his reason for quitting. He said that he has been receiving suggestions from everywhere, including his party workers, and he listened to all of them to come to this decision.

    “I have resigned as the CM today and have asked the Governor to put an end to this government. Party leaders were giving me advice. I heard what they said and have resigned. The situation was not good. So, we have broken ties,” Nitish Kumar told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.

    Kumar’s decision to align with the BJP led to accusations of him being a “chameleon” and “Paltu Ram” for his frequent shifts in political allegiance.
    Tejashwi Yadav, former deputy and RJD leader predicted that JD(U) is on the verge of being “finished” in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

    Calling Nitish Kumar a ‘tired CM’, Yadav said, “Khel abhi shuru hua hai, khel abhi baki hain. What I say, I do…I can give you in writing that the JDU party will be finished in 2024. The public is with us…”

    The BJP, however, said its alliance with Kumar was “natural” and asserted that the “double engine government” of the NDA would benefit Bihar. Party leaders also claimed that the INDIA bloc would soon disintegrate as the alliance has “no ideological basis”.

    Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge has also said that Kumar’s move to split from Mahagathbandhan and to join the NDA was ‘pre-planned’ and accused the JD(U) Chief of keeping the INDIA bloc in the dark.

    Speaking to ANI, the Congress President alleged that the JD(U) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ‘planned’ to break the INDIA bloc as such decisions can not be taken in a hurry.

    “Such decisions can not be taken in a hurry…This shows that it was all pre-planned. To break the INDIA alliance they (BJP-JD(U)) planned all this… He (Nitish Kumar) kept us in the dark, he kept Lalu Yadav in the dark,” Kharge said. 

  • Nitish Kumar Breaks Away From Mahagathbandhan, INDIA Bloc; Check How Congress Reacted |

    Nitish Kumar today resigned as the Chief Minister of the Mahagathbandhan alliance and got the Bihar government dissolved via Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Talking to the media after tendering his resignation, Kumar said that he quit the INDIA bloc as all was not well within the alliance. In his first reaction to the political turmoil, Kumar said the state of affairs in the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (grand alliance) formed one and a half years ago was ‘not good’.

    “I resigned as chief minister and requested the Governor to dissolve the government. The situation came to this pass as the state of affairs within the ruling alliance in Bihar wasn’t good. I sought the advice and opinions of everyone before coming to this decision. I took all opinions and suggestions to heart. The government is being dissolved today,” Nitish told reporters on Sunday.

    He said that the alliance that was formed one and a half years ago, was sailing through choppy waters. “Though we came together on the basis of a common minimum programme and promises to the people, we failed to live up to expectations and discharge our salient duties. Eventually, we fell out and even stopped being on speaking terms. I was left with no option but to sever all ties with the alliance,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Congress compared Kumar with a chameleon for his frequent switchovers. “Nitish Kumar, who frequently changes political partners, is giving tough competition to the chameleons in changing colours. The people of Bihar will not forgive the experts of this betrayal and those who made them dance to their tune. It is quite clear that the Prime Minister and the BJP are scared of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and this political drama has been created to divert attention from it,” said Jairam Ramesh.

    बार-बार राजनीतिक साझेदार बदलने वाले नीतीश कुमार रंग बदलने में गिरगिटों को कड़ी टक्कर दे रहे हैं।

    इस विश्वासघात के विशेषज्ञ और उन्हें इशारों पर नचाने वालों को बिहार की जनता माफ़ नहीं करेगी।

    बिलकुल साफ़ है की भारत जोड़ो न्याय यात्रा से प्रधानमंत्री और भाजपा घबराए हुए हैं और उससे… https://t.co/v47tQ8ykaw
    — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 28, 2024

    Earlier today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that he talked with Lalu Yadav on the issue. “Earlier he and us were fighting together. When I talked to Lalu Ji and Tejashwi, they also said that Nitish is going. If he wanted to stay, he would have stayed but he wants to go. That’s why we already knew this, but to keep the India Alliance intact, if we say something wrong, the wrong message will be sent. This information was already given to us by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. Today that came true. There are many people in the country like ‘Aaya Ram-Gaya Ram’,” Kharge said.

  • Beginning Of Disintegration Of INDIA Bloc? AAP, TMC Decide To Go Solo; Congress Sends Peace Message |

    The Lok Sabha Election 2024 is just around three months away the fissures between the INDIA bloc are widening day by day. While the opposition bloc is yet to finalize its seat-sharing plan, Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab have decided to go solo. According to reports, Congress wanted to contest around 10 seats in Bengal and 5-6 seats in Punjab but none of the parties – AAP and TMC – agreed. 

    Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today said that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. On the other hand, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said that her party declared that the Trinamool Congress would fight alone in Bengal. “I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone will defeat BJP.” 

    Banerjee claimed that she shared many suggestions with Congress but the grand old party rejected it and thus the TMC has taken this decision. The Bengal Chief Minister also claimed she had not been informed of Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra passing through Bengal, contrary to claims by the Congress that they had invited INDIA bloc parties to join the Yatra. “They did not even bother to inform me that they would be coming to West Bengal as a matter of courtesy even though I am a part of the INDIA bloc. So there is no relation with me as far as Bengal is concerned” Mamata Banerjee said.

    Seeing the decision of the TMC and the AAP, Congress sent a message of peace. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that TMC is an important pillar of the INDIA alliance and the alliance cannot be imagined without Mamata Banerjee. “When the journey is long, there can be some speed breakers in the path, and there can be a red light as well, but that does not mean that we should stop the journey itself. The journey continues; we cross the speed breakers, and red lights turn green,” said Jairam Ramesh. He also said that the issues would be resolved soon and INDIA alliance would contest West Bengal standing united.

    RJD also tried to send a similar message. RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Manoj Jha claimed that the statement was given in some particular situation and said that INDIA parties will solve the conflict.

  • In Big Setback To INDIA Bloc, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC To Contest 2024 Polls Alone In Bengal |

    KOLKATA: In a huge setback to the Opposition INDIA bloc, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that her party TMC will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Bengal on all 42 seats. She further stated that TMC will consider a pan-India alliance with the Congress-led INDIA bloc only after the 2024 election results have been declared. Mamata has also reportedly instructed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and supporters to gear up for a fierce electoral battle on all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. During a meeting in Kalighat, Mamata asserted, “Be ready to fight on all seats. I wanted to leave two, but Congress wants twelve.”

    She added, “I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and, in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of the INDIA alliance.” 

    “I gave many proposals but they rejected them from the beginning. From then, we have decided to fight the elections in Bengal alone,” the TMC chief said.

     

    West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says “I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of… pic.twitter.com/VK2HH3arJI
    — ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2024

     

    The Bengal Chief Minister also claimed that she had not been informed of Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra passing through Bengal, contrary to claims by the Congress that they had invited INDIA bloc parties to join the Yatra. “They did not even bother to inform me that they would be coming to West Bengal as a matter of courtesy even though I am a part of the INDIA bloc. So there is no relation with me as far as Bengal is concerned” Mamata Banerjee said.

    Warning Shots: TMC’s Seat-Sharing Deadlock

    With seat-sharing discussions with Congress yielding no results, Mamata had earlier cautioned that TMC is prepared to independently contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats if not given the “due importance.” This declaration sets the stage for a potential showdown within the INDIA bloc.

    Strategic Meeting In Murshidabad: Rallying The Troops

    Mamata’s message was delivered during a closed-door organisational meeting of the party’s Murshidabad district unit, known for its significant minority population and historical ties to the Congress. Emphasizing the need for victory in all three Lok Sabha seats in the district, Mamata urged TMC workers to be battle-ready.

    Congress’ Waning Influence: Bengal’s Political Chessboard

    In the 2019 general elections, Congress managed to retain only the Baharampur seat in West Bengal, highlighting its diminishing political foothold. The state’s political dynamics reveal a complex scenario with TMC, Congress, and CPI(M)-led Left Front allying against the BJP, creating rifts within the Opposition.

    The INDIA Bloc Turmoil: TMC’s Offer And Congress’ Rejection

    Tensions escalated as TMC reportedly offered Congress only two seats, a proposal rejected by the grand old party. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, state Congress president, emphasized that Congress would not “beg” for seats. The fallout raises concerns about the unity of the Opposition ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.

    Last week, the TMC abstained from an INDIA bloc virtual meeting, underscoring the necessity for Congress to recognize its limitations in West Bengal. The ruling party emphasized its role in spearheading the state’s political battle, hinting at growing discontent within the alliance.

    Historical Alliances: TMC’s Past Ties With Congress

    The Trinamool Congress had previously allied with Congress in the 2001 assembly polls, 2009 Lok Sabha elections, and the 2011 assembly polls, leading to the ousting of the CPI(M)-led Left Front government after 34 years. The current discord between TMC and Congress adds a new chapter to their political history. With Mamata’s decision to go alone, it now appears that the doors are closed for the Congress in Bengal. For the INDIA bloc, stitching together a formidable alliance has proven to be a stumbling block and it appears that now the alliance may not be able to put together a united front against the BJP.