Instead of questioning BJP, Congress should question itself: D Raja on seat sharing in INDIA bloc

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress in-charge for Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala said, "BJP is finishing their allies. BJP is forcefully making alliance partner candidates as their party candidates... people will answer this..."

In response, CPI leader D Raja said on Wednesday, "Instead of questioning the BJP, Congress should question itself. How is it planning its electoral strategy? How is it completing its seat-sharing arrangement with other parties?"

"The secular parties of the INDIA alliance should have mutual trust with each other to enter into a meaningful seat-sharing arrangement keeping in view our primary objective of defeating BJP...Is the Congress party doing it in Maharashtra? They should seriously think about it..," he added.

CPI Sources told ANI that D Raja is upset with the attitude of Congress party during Haryana Assembly election, that Congress promised to give one Assembly seat in Haryana to allies of INDIA block but at the last moment denied the seats. In Assembly result of Haryana, BJP formed the government third consecutive time in state.

"CPI also unhappy with Congress party over seat Sharing arrangement made in Jharkhand under INDIA Block and again CPI denied to give assembly seats as coalition partner while in Maharashtra only one seat given to CPI under umbrella of INDIA block while CPI was insisting for two seats." CPI Sources told ANI.

The assembly elections for Jharkhand will be held in two phases from November 13 and 20, whereas Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20. The counting for both the assemblies will be held on November 23.

In Maharashtra, the Congress is in alliance with Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), called the Maha Vikas Aghadi. In Jharkhand, the party has maintained its alliance with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Communist Party of India (Marxist). (ANI)