West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced she will not attend the INDIA bloc meeting on June 1, as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) focuses on the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections and cyclone relief efforts. Cyclone Remal, which struck the state on Sunday night, has claimed at least four lives.
Banerjee cited the ongoing elections and cyclone relief efforts as reasons for her absence. Speaking at an election rally in Kolkata's Burrabazaar on Monday, she explained, “INDIA Bloc had scheduled a meeting on June 1. I informed them I couldn’t attend as we will still have elections here. With cyclone relief on one side and elections on the other, my priority is ensuring relief for the people.”
The final phase of voting in West Bengal includes nine constituencies: Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar, Jadavpur, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jayanagar, Mathurapur, and Diamond Harbour. Banerjee emphasized her commitment to the affected communities, saying, “I am holding a meeting here, but my heart lies with the affected people.”
Top leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are scheduled to meet in Delhi on June 1 to assess their performance in the Lok Sabha elections and strategize for the upcoming results. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has convened the meeting, which will take place as the last phase of polling is underway.
The opposition alliance aims to prevent the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from returning to power and to form a government of its own. While the TMC does not have a seat-sharing deal with the Congress or other INDIA bloc parties in West Bengal, its candidate in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi, Laliteshpati Tripathi, is supported by ally Samajwadi Party.
Banerjee's absence highlights the complex balance of managing state emergencies while participating in national political strategies.
