'We will not tolerate any interference': Mamata attacks Congress, threatens to pull plug on alliance in West Bengal

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday threatened to pull the plug on opposition alliance INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) in West Bengal as she sent out a loud and clear message to the Congress: "We will not tolerate any interference."
A day after Rahul Gandhi said that talks were on for seat-sharing in West Bengal, Mamata said: "I have not spoken to anyone in the Congress (on seat-sharing).Let the Congress fight 300 seats on its own. The regional parties are together, and can contest in the rest. However, we will not tolerate any interference by them (Congress).”
A combative Mamata not just openly contradicted Rahul Gandhi's remarks on seat-sharing talks but also slammed the grand old party for not informing her about the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's schedule in the state.
The Trinamool chief also warned of regional parties versus the Congress battle within the opposition bloc INDIA formed to take on the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "The regional parties will take further decisions only after the Lok Sabha polls are over. The regional parties will remain united,” she said.
Mamata also seemed unmoved by Rahul's overtures to her and slammed him for not sharing information with her about the schedule of his Nyay Yatra in West Bengal. “For the sake of alliance, I could have been informed about the schedule of Nyay Yatra in West Bengal. But I was told nothing,” the West Bengal chief minister said.
On Tuesday, Rahul had said that he shares very good personal relations with Mamata Banerjee. Mamata had dropped first hints about the possibility of fighting alone in Bengal on Tuesday when during an organizational meeting she said the Trinamool Congress should be ready to field candidates from all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies if needed. Last week, Mamata had slammed the Left for trying to dictate the agenda of the INDIA bloc.

Hours after Mamata's outburst, the Congress got into a quick damage control mode and said no one can imagine the existence of the opposition INDIA bloc without Mamata Banerjee. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Banerjee's party Trinamool Congress is an "important pillar" of the opposition alliance.
"No one can imagine the INDIA alliance without Mamata ji. The INDIA bloc will fight the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal and all (partners) will participate," he said.
However, if the Congress wants to continue with its alliance in West Bengal, it will have to rein in its state president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury - who is an open critic of Mamata Banerjee and has been targeting her almost on a daily basis.
In a fresh attack on Mamata, Adhir Chowdhury on Tuesday called Mamata an "opportunist," adding that the Congress party knows how to contest elections on its own.
"This time, the elections will not be fought at the mercy of Mamata Banerjee. The Congress defeated the BJP and TMC in the two seats that Mamata Banerjee is leaving. The Congress party knows how to contest the elections. Mamta Banerjee is an opportunist; she came to power in 2011, with the mercy of Congress," the Congress MP said while addressing a press conference.
Earlier on Saturday, Chowdhury made an aggressive statement, saying that he doesn't care about anyone, whoever is contesting the Lok Sabha Election in West Bengal as he very well knows how to fight and win.
"I don't care about anyone. Our leaders have already spoken. I have reached here only by contesting and winning. We know how to contest and win", Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) has objected to Adhir's attacks on Mamata and has said that the Congress leader's remarks will end up helping the BJP in the state. The Trinamool Congress calls Adhir an agent of the BJP.
(With inputs from agencies)