Congress in 2011 played second fiddle to Trinamool Congress and later parted ways when realized that their party is being slowly but steadily getting subverted by the TMC. In 2016 the Congress forged an alliance with the left for the state assembly elections and came out with a large grin as their partners were reduced to a mere handful of seats, 26 to be precise. The Congress got 44 seats, which is a lot considering their precedence in the state polls for the last two decades.
The Congress initially managed to secure around 44 seats but after the election, many of its MLA’s left the party and joined the TMC. The situation of Congress in Bengal is dire. It is expected to get more desperate as Rahul Gandhi meets state leaders today. Reportedly, half-a-dozen of its MP’s and MLA’s are expected to join TMC today.
The math connotes if 25% of the MLA’s shift sides to TMC, The INC may lose its status as the main opposition party in Bengal. As of now twelve of the forty-four MLA’s have left the Congress for TMC. Rahul, understanding the abysmal situation of his party in the state, decided to meet them today.
Though the Congress is suffering from mass exodus and the possibility of doom looms large on them, it seems Congress is yet to rid itself of nepotism. As per reports, the General Secretary of State Congress Committee, Omprakash Mishra will not be attending the meeting today. Mishra is responsible for stitching together the alliance with the left that revived Congress in the state despite the shortcomings. He was entrusted with putting together an alliance for the 2019 general elections similar to that of 2016.
The invitee’s list states that MLA’s, ex-MPs and ex-AICC secretaries can attend today’s meeting. Mishra holds none of the stated positions mentioned in the invite. It seems in order to maintain relevance Rahul has decided to sacrifice Mishra.
Rahul seemingly sidelined Mishra as the prevailing notion within the party changed from siding with the left to leave the Congress party. A large section of the Congress leaders believes that this siding with the left will spell the end of INC in West Bengal.
