Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in May this year, Meghalaya could prove to be a dampener to the ongoing move for seat adjustment between two INDIA members – Congress and Trinamool Congress.
According to sources, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has demanded one seat in Meghalaya and at least three from Assam.
Sources also said that Banerjee had conveyed to the Congress leadership that Trinamool Congress wanted to contest from Tura Lok Sabha seat of Garo Hills which comprises 24 Assembly constituencies.
The Trinamool Congress argued that it won five Assembly seats in Meghalaya, four of which are from Garo Hills. It also said that it was the runner-up in ten seats. The party also stated that Congress did not win any seat from Garo Hills.
Further, the Trinamool Congress stated that its vote share in several Assembly seats in Garo Hills was much more than that of the Congress and that is why it wanted to contest from the Tura seat.
Further, it was also learnt that Trinamool Congress was willing to give more seats to Congress in West Bengal if the grand old party agrees to give Tura seat in Meghalaya and three seats in Assam.
Congress wanted to be given at least seven to eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.
However, sources said that the Congress leadership is strongly opposed to the demand by Trinamool Congress for seats in Meghalaya and Assam.
If the seat adjustment failed to work in Meghalaya and Assam, the cooperation between Trinamool Congress and Congress under the INDIA banner may fail even in West Bengal.
Meghalaya has two Lok Sabha seats – Shillong and Tura. Assam on the other hand has 14 Lok Sabha seats.
