TMC will skip I.N.D.I.A.'s LS seat-sharing meeting

New Delhi: As the Congress pushes ahead with its meetings on Lok Sabha seat-sharing with I.N.D.I.A. partners, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said they are not keen on sending any representative for the talks as they have clearly spelled out their expectations.

Party sources on Thursday said the TMC does not see any meaning in holding a meeting with the Congress’ national alliance committee.

While the TMC acknowledged that it had spoken about leaving two seats to the ally, sources said the Congress has not communicated any number to the TMC amid speculation that the grand old party has demanded nine to 12 seats in the state.

Without spelling out their demands, sources said the Congress has told the TMC that the offer is too low and difficult to accept.

Trinamool sources said there was no point in a  senior leader flying to Delhi to meet the panel and repeat the proposal and rationale to earmark just two out of the 42 seats in the state to the Congress

Sources explained that the Congress did not cross 5 per cent of votes in 39 seats in 2019 and “that is the reality”.

A senior TMC leader, however, said that the party is “committed to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc” but the Congress should acknowledge the “ground reality” in Bengal.

Trinamool sources said only party chief Mamata Banerjee can decide on increasing the number of seats for the Congress, indicating that the talks between the Congress and the TMC will now be held only at the highest level.

Sources also said the TMC has sought one Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya and two in Assam in the Lok Sabha polls.

The TMC's argument is that it had a larger vote share than the Congress in Meghalaya in the last Assembly elections in the state.

In the last couple of days, the Congress has held several rounds of meetings with its allies.