📷 Image Credits: NDTV
Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress has emerged victorious in the recent Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, securing 29 out of the state’s 42 seats. The party leader made a strong statement by indicating that her party would not attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers, citing concerns over the government being formed ‘illegally and undemocratically.’ Despite the BJP securing 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the majority mark, it has relied on allies like Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU. In response, Banerjee took a dig at the BJP, remarking on the potential for swift changes and the uncertainty surrounding the formation of the new government.
The INDIA alliance, comprising 232 Lok Sabha seats, received crucial support from the Congress and other allies like the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and the DMK. Despite INDIA bloc members hinting at the prospects of forming a government, the alliance remains short of a parliamentary majority. Banerjee emphasized the people’s desire not to be governed by the BJP and called for reforms in the election process, based on the state’s participation in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections.
Trinamool Congress witnessed a significant increase in its Lok Sabha seat tally, rising from 22 to 29, while the BJP’s count decreased from 18 to 12. Additionally, Banerjee was elected as the chairperson of the Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party during the party meeting, solidifying her leadership position within the party. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the role of regional parties and alliances like the INDIA bloc becomes crucial in shaping the future governance of the country.