Meghalaya: TMC might get Tura seat in amidst talks of Opposition disunity

Shillong: Amid discussions surrounding a fragmented opposition within the INDIA bloc, the Trinamool Congress appears to be on the verge of clinching the Tura seat in Meghalaya from the Congress, as part of broader agreements already forged in certain states.

The recent unravelling of the opposition alliance, particularly with the exit of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has left the Congress-led INDIA bloc in disarray.

However, following Rahul Gandhi’s widely regarded "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra," the Congress seems to have recognized the imperative for a unified front across states.

Under Rahul's guidance to comprehend ground realities, the Congress has begun negotiating seat-sharing arrangements with various parties.

This includes agreements with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Haryana, Goa, Chandigarh, and even Gujarat, where the AAP holds significant sway.

Moreover, in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has agreed to ally with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, and in Bihar, talks are ongoing for collaboration with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Discussions are currently underway for a similar arrangement between the Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, a crucial battleground state.

The negotiations in West Bengal have potential repercussions in Assam and Meghalaya, as the TMC has expressed interest in securing two seats in Assam and the Tura Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya.

However, the Meghalaya Congress, while hesitant to relinquish the Tura seat to the TMC, ultimately acknowledges the authority of the AICC in such matters.

The situation is complicated by personal and political animosities between key figures, such as Mukul Sangma and Vincent H Pala, which hinder potential seat-sharing arrangements.