At the second joint Opposition meeting held in Bengaluru recently, a united front was put up by the Congress and Trinamool Congress. Such was the bonhomie on display that the two parties reportedly coordinated together to name the grouping INDIA, or the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. Less than 10 days later, the acrimonious relationship in West Bengal is back for everyone to see and also gives an indication that there are still multiple issues left to be worked out within the 26-party grouping. Speaking at a press conference Saturday, Bengal Congress president and party floor leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, hit out at the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee. “She (Mamata) came to power in 2011 with the help of the Congress. Then she denied that. The people of the state have become disillusioned with Mamata Banerjee now. So, she felt that she should now join hands with the Congress… The Trinamool now desperately needs the Congress.” Chowdhury added: “Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra united the entire country. Rahul Gandhi's leadership is a clear sign of change in India as a whole. The TMC realised that if they do not join with the politics of Rahul Gandhi, then the party will split.” TMC leader Shantanu Sen retorted that the TMC was not going to attack the Congress in return, keeping the alliance in mind. "The TMC came to power in West Bengal with more than 180 seats. That number has only increased, but the Congress became zero in 2011. Keeping in mind the alliance, we are not attacking the Congress. But that doesn't mean we are weak. We are powerful enough in West Bengal to fight against the BJP. We do not need anybody's help." These statements came a day after the TMC's annual Martrys' Day rally, where Mamata and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee refrained from speaking about the Congress even as they attacked the CPI(M) and the BJP. In her speech, Mamata said: “We do not care about power or post, we care about peace for our nation." Taking a swipe at this unfolding situation, BJP West Bengal president Suvendu Adhikari said, “Those who want to fight against this (the TMC) government, come and fight with the BJP. Or create a platform where you can stand and fight all out against the tyrannical state government… If you want to fight against this state government after seeing the pictures of the leaders who attended the alliance meeting, the people of West Bengal will not believe you. This is friendship in Delhi and wrestling in Bengal.”
