Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday questioned the sincerity of the Congress leadership in finalising the seat-sharing formulae of the INDIA bloc, accusing it of being responsible for differences among allies, particularly in Bengal, that was jeopardising the core political objective of the alliance.

“Since the first meeting held in Bihar, the Trinamul Congress advised (Congress leaders) to seal the seat-sharing deal as soon as possible. Mamata Banerjee had set a deadline of December 31. But nothing happened in the subsequent meetings held in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, even as we repeatedly asked them to finalise it,” Abhishek told journalists at Amtala in South 24-Parganas, part of his Lok Sabha constituency of Diamond Harbour.

“No constituent of the alliance, particularly the Congress, ever called Trinamul for dialogue, although they claim that such an alliance cannot be imagined without Mamata Banerjee,” he added.

The Diamond Harbour MP said the foremost priority, upon formation of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, should have been the completion of the seat-sharing arrangements. “We waited for seven months. But the Congress remained idle, while we remained associated with the bloc without any ego,” he added.

Abhishek slammed Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for “strengthening the hands of the BJP” by attacking Trinamul and Mamata.

“A Congress leader none less than the party’s state president Adhir Chowdhury has been advocating Presidential rule in Bengal. He even welcomed the ED and the CBI raids against Trinamul leaders in Bengal, while raising objections against such raids against his own party’s leaders in Delhi. He has also been calling Mamata Banerjee a B-team of the BJP, accusing her of being a Trojan horse in INDIA. By demanding the President’s rule here, whose hands is Adhir Chowdhury strengthening? There are limits to our patience,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that he has been attacking and challenging the woman who has been tirelessly fighting the BJP. But people have understood who the real Trojan horse is,” he added.

Reacting to allegations against Chowdhury, the Congress’s chief spokesperson for Bengal, Soumya Aich Roy, said: “Abhishek is a newbie, to be qualified to speak about Chowdhury.”

“Abhishek should know about his party’s people, who help the BJP government by voting in favour of the contentious Bills moved in Parliament. He should also know who helped the BJP win elections by dividing Opposition votes... it is not Adhir Chowdhury,” he added. “Chowdhury is spot on, in raising his voice against the organised theft and corruption raj in Bengal under Trinamul.”

Attack ‘unfortunate’

Abhishek Banerjee said the attack on the Enforcement Directorate team outside the residence of Trinamul leader Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali on January 5 was “unfortunate”, but refused to blame him till a probe was done.

Speaking for the first time since the attack on the ED team, Abhishek said: “The matter is sub judice. An SIT has been formed... Until the probe is completed nothing can be said who was behind the attack.”

“I have no information about Shahjahan’s presence on the day there. I have seen in the media the demonstration of some people... But whatever has happened was uncalled-for and unfortunate,” he added.