Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's inconsistent statements regarding the Opposition INDIA bloc align with her track record of changing political positions. Initially, she predicted significant losses for the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, casting doubt on their ability to secure even 40 seats. She also acknowledged the Congress's inability to challenge the BJP in North Indian states under saffron rule.
However, as the Lok Sabha polls near completion, Banerjee has made a complete turn around, now asserting that the INDIA bloc will secure 315 seats, with a maximum of 195 seats going to the BJP. This shift raises questions among political analysts, especially considering that the Congress, a key member of the alliance, is only projected to win 40 seats. Adding to the confusion is Banerjee's silence on the potential seat count for the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.
Further more, her recent statement offering external support to a possible INDIA bloc government contradicts her previous claims of leading the alliance post-election. The discrepancy in her predictions prompts the query of how significant the Trinamool Congress's support would be if the INDIA bloc indeed secures 315 seats.
While the BJP's West Bengal leadership has chosen to overlook these conflicting statements, leaders from the Congress and CPI(M) have begun criticizing her stance. Leaders like Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury have labeled Banerjee's shifting positions as examples of her inconsistent political allegiances.
Observers note that such reversals are not new, dating back to the formation of the Trinamool Congress in 1998, when Banerjee split from the Congress. Over the years, Banerjee's political alliances and loyalties have fluctuated, from partnering with the BJP to aligning with the Congress and later distancing herself from both. Her history of changing affiliations has been a recurring theme, with alliances forming and dissolving based on political circumstances.