Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has been a busy man since the June 4 Lok Sabha election results handed the opposition’s INDIA bloc a better-than-expected tally, making the ruling BJP dependent on TDP and JD-U to form the government. The TMC’s tally of 29 Lok Sabha seats makes it the third-largest party in the INDIA bloc.
On Thursday morning, Abhishek Banerjee first met SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for one hour. He next met AAP leaders Raghav Chaddha and Sanjay Singh. In the evening, Banerjee, along with party colleague Derek O’Brien went to ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai to meet Shiv Sena-UBT leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray. Sources say the meeting lasted for 90 minutes during which the INDIA allies discussed the road ahead.
While courtesy calls like these are routine, Abhishek Banerjee’s back-to-back meetings with the regional satraps in the INDIA bloc carry deeper significance.
I.N.D.I.A UNITY
At the outset, the meetings convey a sense of unity in the INDIA bloc which has decided to sit in the opposition. With better numbers in the incoming Lok Sabha, the opposition is all set to exert pressure on the NDA over key issues in Parliament, including the row over central funds for West Bengal.
Not only will the regional parties in India want to chalk out a joint strategy to push for issues in their state, but such meetings would also build tactical pressure on the Congress, which is widely seen as the INDIA bloc leader.
TACTICAL PRESSURE ON CONGRESS
Smaller parties in the opposition coalition would seek to remind the Congress that it may have emerged as the single-largest party in INDIA bloc with 99 seats, but still needs the support of regional parties to put up a formidable opposition.
Sources say the TMC believes the alliance’s seat count would have been higher had the parties arrived at seat-sharing in the state. TMC MP Jawahar Sarkar tweeted as much on Thursday.
The TMC also does not want a Left-oriented Congress. Mamata Banerjee has said in her campaigns too that the Congress “listens to the Left in INDIA”.
PROTECT THE FLOCK
Political observers say such meetings are necessary to keep the flock together in greater interest of the alliance. With Maharashtra going to polls later this year, political circles are already abuzz at attempts to poach leaders and MLAs. Banerjee’s meeting with the Thackrays is a symbolic gesture of alliance support.
It’s only with numerical strength that the opposition can effectively corner the government in the Lok Sabha, thus protecting its MPs from being poached becomes crucial. Mamata Banerjee had also appealed on results day against joining hands with the BJP.
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