New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has decided to prioritise “people’s issues” in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, emphasising its commitment to addressing the challenges faced by West Bengal and the nation. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, the deputy leader of TMC in Lok Sabha, highlighted that the party does not want Parliament’s proceedings to be disrupted over “one issue”, indirectly referring to the Congress’ focus on allegations against industrialist Gautam Adani, according to a PTI report.
TMC leaders have said that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has supported the party’s position, asserting that while the TMC and Congress are both part of the INDIA alliance, they are not electoral allies. She emphasised that the TMC is not obligated to follow “unilateral decisions” made by the Congress, an NDTV report mentioned.
‘We don’t want one issue to disrupt Parliament’
The TMC plans to raise pressing matters such as the central government’s alleged withholding of MGNREGA and other funds for West Bengal, the ongoing violence in Manipur, and the delay in approving the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill. Other issues on the party’s agenda include price rise, unemployment, and a fertiliser shortage, which it sees as critical concerns for the common people.
“TMC will sharply focus on ‘people’s issues’ to raise in Parliament. We don’t want one issue to disrupt Parliament. We must hold this government accountable for its multiple failures,” Dastidar told reporters.
The Aparajita Bill, unanimously passed by the West Bengal assembly on September 3, seeks capital punishment for rape convicts in cases resulting in the victim’s death or vegetative state and life imprisonment without parole for other severe crimes. TMC leaders have sought a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu to expedite the bill’s clearance, which has been pending after being referred to the president by West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose.
‘TMC does not have an electoral alliance with any party’
The TMC, while part of the opposition’s INDIA bloc at the national level, has distanced itself from the Congress’ demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue. It skipped a recent INDIA bloc meeting on Monday, where this demand was formalised, as well as another opposition strategy session on Wednesday.
“We will take on the BJP, but our outlook on how to do so can be strategically different. TMC does not have an electoral alliance with any party, but we win,” Dastidar said, asserting the party’s independent stance.
TMC sources reiterated that their party does not consider itself bound by Congress’ decisions. The TMC’s stance comes in the wake of its strong showing in recent elections. The party, recently, secured all six seats in the West Bengal bypolls.
