Is Opposition divided already? TMC only alternative to BJP, says Mahua Moitra

Meanwhile, the BJP cited differences between different opposition parties to make light of the prospect of their alliance ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra came down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark that the TMC was fighting the elections in Meghalaya to ensure that the BJP comes to power.

The Trinamool leader further said that her party was the only national alternative to the BJP.

Addressing a public meeting in Meghalaya on Thursday in support of the TMC candidate Elgiva Gwyneth Rynjah, Moitra said, "Had the Congress been able to defeat the BJP, there would be no need for us (to contest the Assembly polls). However, since Congress failed to win the state, we had to step forward to provide an alternative to the people. The Trinamool is the only alternative (against the BJP)."

"Are we supposed to sit at home and watch the BJP win another general election while the Congress continues to lose state after state?" she added.

On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi attacked the TMC alleging it was fighting elections in Meghalaya to ensure the BJP comes to power in the state, drawing a sharp reaction from the Mamata Banerjee-led party.

Slamming the Trinamool Congress(TMC), Gandhi raised the incidents of "violence and scams" in West Bengal where it is in power. He also took on the BJP alleging it was like a "class bully" that respects no one as it thinks that it knows everything.

"You know the history of the TMC - the violence and scams that take place in West Bengal. You are aware of their tradition. They spent a huge amount of money in Goa (polls) and the idea was to help the BJP. That is exactly the idea in Meghalaya. The TMC's idea in Meghalaya is to ensure that the BJP is strengthened and come to power," he claimed.

The remarks by Gandhi at his first election rally in Shillong came against the backdrop of the latest comments by Congress president Malikarjun Kharge that his party was in talks with other opposition parties and would lead an alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to come to power at the Centre.

Meanwhile, the BJP cited differences between different opposition parties to make light of the prospect of their alliance ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.