Every bite counts
Sir — The disruption of natural ecosystems due to human transgressions is well-documented. Unfortunately, humans are not alone in disrupting natural spaces. Creatures as small as ants can also cause large-scale damage, as has been proved in a recent study conducted in Kenya. An invasive species of big-headed ants has changed the landscape, making local trees like the acacia vulnerable to herbivores and leaving lions with little cover to hunt zebras. These ants reached Africa with humans. It is time they recognise the havoc that they wreak and cause other creatures to wreak as well.
Sanjana Pal Chowdhury, Calcutta
Disunited alliance
Sir — The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has made it clear that her party would not fight the general elections in an alliance with the Congress in its home state (“Will go alone in Bengal: Mamata”, Jan 25). This might be because Congress leaders like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have launched nasty, verbal tirades against Banerjee. This is uncalled for.
The Congress failed to win a single assembly seat in the 2021 polls in Bengal. The fact that a party enjoying greater prominence in a state would be given a larger seat share was a principle supposedly agreed upon in the INDIA bloc’s first few meetings. Why, then, has the Congress dilly-dallied in its seat-sharing talks? Three weeks have passed since the December 31 deadline requested by the Trinamul Congress, but no discussion has apparently taken place on this issue. The Opposition parties can brook no delays in going up against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Khokan Das, Calcutta
Sir — India’s grand old party should not be obstinate when it comes to seat-sharing negotiations with the TMC as the latter has enough strength to fight the BJP alone in Bengal (“INDIA stirred, not shaken”, Jan 25). An alliance between the TMC and the Congress could only have been possible if the Congress had shed its arrogance. Mamata Banerjee continues to enjoy the support of the people of Bengal despite allegations of corruption against her party.
Arun Gupta, Calcutta
Sir — The TMC’s decision to fight the imminent general elections alone in Bengal may spark off widespread turmoil within the anti-BJP front and come back to hurt the party. Rampant corruption, the high-handedness of leaders and apathy towards problems faced by the people have engendered resentment towards the TMC.
The chief minister’s belief that the slew of welfare programmes announced by her will give the TMC an advantage is misguided. The widening fissures in the INDIA bloc in states like Bengal, Punjab and Bihar can only favour the BJP. Mamata Banerjee must join hands with other anti-Hindutva forces to ensure the survival of democracy.
Abhijit Kumar Sen, Hooghly
Sir — Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to enter into an electoral understanding with the Congress must have pleased the BJP. Every regional party would understandably like to protect its turf. But the Opposition must reach a compromise if the parties hope to take on the BJP. The saffron brigade, meanwhile, is going all out to come back to power at the Centre for a third term. This is evident from the recent consecration ceremony at the Ram temple and the decision to award the Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur.
Anthony Henriques, Mumbai
Sir — The Congress’s apparent reluctance to agree to Mamata Banerjee’s seat-sharing proposal has prompted her to declare that the TMC will contest on its own. The Aam Aadmi Party, too, has resolved to go it alone in Punjab. Such disputes do not bode well for the INDIA bloc. It will only aid the BJP’s electoral prospects.
Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai