Mamata Banerjee’s decision to go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and her alleged break-up with the Congress in West Bengal announced just hours ago has come as a significant blow to the INDIA bloc.

The BJP, INDIA’s primary opposition in the Lok Sabha polls, took a jab, terming the INDIA alliance as a ‘directionless entity’ devoid of leadership and ideology. Sukanta Majumdar, the West Bengal BJP president, stated, “The INDIA alliance is such a boat that does not have anyone steering it. It neither has a leader nor any ideology….”

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While speaking to ANI, Majumdar said, “This alliance is unnatural and not politically viable because, in West Bengal, Congress and CPM are fighting against Mamata Banerjee. A while ago, in the Panchayat elections, Congress and CPM were thrashed by TMC workers.”

He stated that despite cordial ties among the top leaders of the three parties, the ground-level situation presented a stark contrast.

“If you had thought that with Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Sitaram Yechuri having tea together, the alliance would be strong and the workers on the ground would get trashed and vote for TMC, that would not have happened. Mamata Banerjee knows the ground report, and the state CPM and the state Congress were opposed to it,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP leader R Ashok welcomed Mamata Banerjee’s stance, asserting that the Congress lacks a state leader in West Bengal, making it an ineffective (“nalayak”) party. “I welcome Mamata Banerjee’s stand. Congress is a ‘nalayak’ party. There is no leader of Congress in West Bengal, which means it is a ‘nalayak’ party,” R Ashok said speaking to reporters.

Highlighting the fractures in the alliance, Ashok pointed out, “Nitish Kumar is one step out. Akhilesh Yadav is already gone. They came for an alliance in Bengaluru. I think they had the best meeting and the best biriyani. I think Mamata Banerjee’s stand will be echoed all over India.”

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On the other hand, praising West Bengal CM, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, part of the INDIA bloc, said that Mamata Banerjee is fighting like a tigress in Bengal, and her fight holds significant importance. “I have come to know from the media, but let me see what Mamata ji has said, Mamata ji is fighting like a tigress in Bengal, her fight in West Bengal is extremely important,” Thackeray mentioned.

Adding to this, NCP MP Supriya Sule expressed confidence that the alliance is united and will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together. “She is our didi, and we love and respect her. The alliance (INDIA) is united, and we will all fight together. There will be no loss to the alliance. The model in every state will be different. There is no infighting in the alliance. We are in frequent conversation,” Sule said.

Earlier on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said that her party will contest the elections alone in Bengal. “I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of the INDIA alliance,” the CM said.