Mamata Banerjee's Absence Looms Over INDIA Bloc Meeting

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee may skip the next meeting of the INDIA alliance bloc on November 6, citing prior engagements in north Bengal. The meeting, aimed at planning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, comes after Congress's poor performance in recent state elections. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticized Congress for its failures and claimed that the Trinamool Congress could provide leadership against the BJP nationwide. Meanwhile, JD(U) leaders called for a "credible face" like Nitish Kumar to lead the INDIA coalition, urging Congress to show a "big heart" and include all parties to defeat the BJP. Banerjee also emphasized the need for proper seat sharing to prevent the BJP from retaining power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.