INDI Faultline Deepens, Mayawati Decides Solo Run In Lok Sabha 2024, TMC Not Buzzing

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: In a fresh jolt to INDI alliance, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo on Monday announced to go solo in Lok Sabha Elections 2024. "I want to clarify that our party (BSP) will go solo in upcoming (2024) Lok Sabha polls. With backing of people from backward communities, Dalits, tribals and Muslims, we formed a full majority government in UP in 2007, and that's why we have decided to contest Lok Sabha polls alone. We will maintain a distance from those who are casteist and believe in communalism, and we will not join any alliance," said BSP chief while dressing a press conference on occasion of her birthday. 

Mayawati's statement comes as a big jolt to INDI alliance, a group of opposition parties, including Congress. For unversed, several parties have come toger to take on National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at Centre in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

Meanwhile, Mayawati also refuted claims that she may take a retirement from politics, saying that she will continue to work to strengn her party. "Last month, I declared Akash Anand as my political successor following which it was being speculated in media that I may soon retire from politics. However, I want to clarify that it's not case, and I will continue to work towards strengning party," she said.

BSP chief exhorted party leers and workers to "work with full strength to help BSP get a favourable verdict" in 2024 election.

BSP, a Scheduled Castes-centric party, was a major political force in Uttar Presh in 1990s and 2000s but witnessed a grual decline over past dece. In 2022 assembly elections, party polled only 12.8 per cent votes, its lowest in almost three deces.

TMC vs Congress

Earlier, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leer Abhishek Banerjee h taken a swipe at Congress, exposing cold relations between two parties.  Banerjee h mocked Congress’s demand for Lok Sabha seats in Bengal (as part of an alliance with Trinamool) over party's humiliating defeat in Assam's North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council elections.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Banerjee said "One might say ir (Congress) seat share aspirations in Bengal are akin to aiming for stars when y couldn't quite grasp ground in ir own backyard!"

Besides,  West Bengal Congress chief hir Ranjan Chowdhury h also attacked TMC supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that latter was "busy serving" Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Chowdhury h also claimed that Mamata did not want an alliance with Congress and asserted that grand old party could contest elections on its own in Lok Sabha polls 2024.

"We did not ask for alms. Mamata Banerjee herself said she wanted an alliance. We do not need Mamata Banerjee's mercy. We can contest elections on our own. Mamata Banerjee actually doesn't want an alliance as she is busy serving PM Modi," he told reporters. 

For unversed, Mamata Banerjee h declined to meet five-member Congress committee for discussions on seat-sharing ahe of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, Mamata h proposed "two seats" to Congress, but offer was promptly rejected by Congress leer hir Ranjan Chowdhury.    

INDI Alliance Seat-Sharing Rift 

opposition INDIA bloc faced a challenge when TMC indicated its reluctance to engage with Congress committee responsible for seat justments within alliance. Congress committee, comprising Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Prakash, has alrey conducted seat-sharing talks with various parties in INDIA alliance, including Samajwi Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Shar Pawar faction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Aam Ami Party (AAP), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar. However, meetings remained inconclusive.