At the latest public meeting held at Onda in Bankura, a somewhat expected yet head-turning development took place in the run-up to the first major state election in India this year.

The Left and Congress, who have formed an alliance to fight the election in West Bengal, have been asked by a Trinamool Congress leader to join the TMC to fight the onslaught of the BJP. West Bengal Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Tapas Roy, asked the Left- Congress to join into the TMC fold to give a combined fight to the BJP. Roy stated that since the energy of the Congress and Left are on a decline, they have formed an alliance and that they can make their fight viable against the BJP by joining the TMC. The offer is politically novel given the enmity between the TMC and the Left front.

Also see: Trilateral fight in West Bengal election 2021

TMC MLA Tapas Roy said, “They (BJP) are saying that they will rule Bengal. I want to tell Congressmen and Left party leaders that Arup Khan (Onda TMC MLA) will join your procession. Congress and the Left can’t do it alone. You also know that this is not possible with your declining energy. That is why you two have come together.”

He further added a caution, “Do not stop Mamata Banerjee. Do not cut the canal and bring crocodiles. You also know that you do not have the strength to resist the Kapalik power (BJP). The name of the one who can is Mamata Banerjee. All BJP leaders are afraid of her.”

Also See: Would West Bengal election really be a three-way fight after the defections?

This offer of TMC drew reactions from both Congress and BJP leaders in West Bengal.

Dilip Ghosh, the President of the West Bengal unit of BJP commented, “Mamata cannot fight the BJP alone.” In the context of the violence between BJP and TMC workers (like in Khejuri in East Midnapore), he also stated that the TMC workers should mend their ways or face retribution.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stated that Tapas Roy should leave TMC and join Congress, as Roy’s statement, Adhir said, reflected that TMC would not be able to fight BJP alone.

While TMC is dealing with the fallout of the defections, BJP is currently looking to gather & woo the dalit vote bank in the run-up to the Bengal election 2021.