For the first time, 'Vande Mataram' will be sung from the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations

During a meeting of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) national leadership held in New Delhi on Monday, chaired by the party's national leader and central government minister Chirag Paswan, discussions focused on expanding the organization, preparing for upcoming legislative assembly elections, and the party's political strategy in various states.

Following the meeting, Chirag Paswan announced that LJP (Ram Vilas) intends to participate in the legislative assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Currently, the party is keeping both options open. If an acceptable seat distribution is achieved within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the party will participate in the election as part of the coalition; otherwise, the party may contest independently.

During the discussion at the national leadership, Uttar Pradesh was recognized as a crucial state for the organization's expansion. The party leadership believes it is necessary to play an active role in Uttar Pradesh to strengthen its political presence outside Bihar. According to sources, the party is working on a strategy to strengthen the organization at the polling station level and increase its social base in this state.

The party has not yet specified how many seats it plans to contest in the elections. The final decision regarding the number of seats and the coalition will be made after further political negotiations and depending on the prevailing circumstances.

Addressing the attendees, Chirag Paswan emphasized that the time has come to make the organization stronger, more effective, and more people-oriented. He urged officials and party activists to actively work towards conveying the party's ideology and policies to the wider population. Considering the upcoming legislative assembly elections, he stressed the need to accelerate the party's activities in different states and enhance the effectiveness of activists' roles.

Membership drives, organizational expansion, polling station management, and public relations activities were also discussed at the meeting. The party leadership instructed activists to conduct continuous campaigns to strengthen the party's presence locally. The national leadership body also reviewed how the organization could be strengthened in states where the party's presence is limited to ensure better results in future elections.

LJP (Ram Vilas)'s decision to participate in the elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab is considered significant from an NDA political perspective. The party aims to increase its support among Dalits and some other social groups, working towards achieving a comprehensive national identity rather than remaining a party confined only to Bihar. Now, the focus of politicians will be on the negotiations within the NDA regarding seat allocation in the coming months, and whether LJP (Ram Vilas) will choose the coalition path or the independent path in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

In West Bengal, support for Mamata Banerjee is resurfacing among legislators who previously opposed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following the legislative assembly elections. A few days ago, three Muslim MPs declined to join the NDA or Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Now, three MPs who left the TMC leadership and joined Ritrabat Banerjee's faction have also held demonstrations protesting the attack on the TMC chief, intensifying rumors about these deputies potentially returning to the main wing.

These MPs are Tausif-Ur-Rahman, an MP from Basirahat North; Abdul Halik Molla, an MP from Metiaburdh; and Bibhas Sardar, a former MP from Baruipur. This situation occurred after the alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee. She visited Galishahar to meet with the family of a deceased TMC activist and encountered protests during which, it was claimed, stones and mud were thrown at her car.

Activists of 'Kalighat TMC' condemned the attack on Mamata and staged protests across the state. The TMC in Bengal is currently often referred to as 'Kalighat TMC.' In light of this, the three MPs changed their stance and voiced support for Mamata.

These MPs had previously severed political ties with Mamata and joined the Ritrabat Banerjee group. Tausif-Ur-Rahman's presence at a press conference with major 'Kalighat TMC' leaders, Sovandeep Chattopadhyay and Kunal Ghosh, fueled speculation about his 'return' to Mamata Banerjee's camp.

The MP from Basirahat North, Tausif-Ur-Rahman, stated: 'Where Didi is, Tausif is. Without Didi's photograph, I cannot get even ten votes in Basirahat; that is the truth of the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. My safety has been removed. But for me, Basirahat means Mamata, Tausif means Mamata Banerjee, and Trinamool Congress means Mamata Banerjee.'

The MLA from Baruipur East, Bibhas Sardar, emphasized the importance of party unity, stating: 'We won under the symbol 'Joda Full.' We won under the symbol given by Mamata Banerjee. In other words, when they were attacked, we protested. All 80 Trinamool MLAs must protest the attack on Mamata Banerjee. All groups are united; every group is part of the Trinamool Congress.'

The MLA from Metiaburdh, Abdul Halik Molla, took an intermediate position, noting: 'Mamata Banerjee was attacked. I participated in an event organized to protest this. I do not want to say which group I belong to; currently, I am with the Ritrabat group, but I am protesting the attack on Didi Mamata.'

Ritrabat Banerjee also issued a statement on the matter. He did not give much weight to the situation, saying: 'It is not my duty to speak on behalf of Bibhas Sardar or Tausif Rahman. I can say that Abdul Halik Molla is with us. And we are number 65; I can assure you that this number will not be less. If the Trinamool 'Kalighat Group' is so confident, let them present a letter and declare that their number is greater.'

Bengal's political life is currently at a very crucial period. After May, the Ritrabat group was considered a parallel center of power within the TMC. However, the public support shown by three MPs for Kalighat regarding the attack on Mamata Banerjee raises a question in political circles: is this group beginning to fracture?

TMC leaders from the Kalighat camp assert that protests concerning the Chief Minister's safety unite all party members. Currently, the party claims that 'all groups are united,' but the choice of different platforms for press conferences over less than 90 days has raised new questions about factionalism within the Trinamool.