Rift Emerges In Opposition Alliance? CPI-M's Brinda Karat Attacks TMC Over Violence In Bengal Panchayat Polls

A day after 26 Opposition parties gathered in Bengaluru to formalise their anti-BJP alliance ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat on Wednesday (19 July) attacked Trinamool Congress for violence in panchayat elections in West Bengal.

Both CPI-M and Trinamool Congress are part of the 26-party Opposition alliance, which finalised its name as Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Tuesday (18 July).

"In the opposition meeting, we held a discussion to save the Constitution. TMC's dictatorship was seen in Bengal during the Panchayat elections," Karat was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

"To save the constitution and democracy in West Bengal, the (alliance) will be decided after consulting the party leaders of the state. I want to say one thing that you cannot save democracy by attacking it," she added.

Earlier on Monday (17 July), CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury too had ruled out any alliance with the TMC in West Bengal and said that "secular parties" along with the Left and the Congress will take on the BJP as well as the TMC in the state.

"Mamata and CPI(M) will not happen. There will be secular parties along with the Left and the Congress in West Bengal which will fight against the BJP and TMC," the CPI(M) general secretary was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.