NEW DELHI: Dismissing speculation over the possibility of Trinamool Congress merging with Congress as nothing but rumour mongering, those aware of the matters discussed at the meeting between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee have made it clear that there was no discussion on the issue.
Meeting Focused on Coordination, Not Merger
The meeting between Gandhi and Banerjee at 10 Janpath lasted nearly one and a half hours. The two leaders discussed developments in West Bengal and how the TMC and Congress can coordinate and work together as INDIA bloc allies to strengthen their presence in the state and counter the BJP, which came to power after ousting the three-term Mamata Banerjee-led government.
They also discussed the 2029 Lok Sabha polls and how they could coordinate on strengthening the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP in the general elections three years from now. However, given the crisis that has hit the TMC since it lost the elections in West Bengal and its increasing closeness to Congress, a coming together could be seen as a last resort for survival of the Banerjee outfit.
Significance of the Meeting
Abhishek Banerjee's meeting with Rahul Gandhi gains significance as it comes at a time when the TMC is grappling with its worst crisis, battling rebellion from its own MPs after a split in the party's legislature wing in the state. TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee had met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath on Tuesday, in what was seen as an attempt to further build on efforts to rally support as her party faces its worst crisis.
During the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday, visuals of Sonia and Mamata Banerjee hugging each other and sharing a warm interaction were shared by Congress. Banerjee had urged all constituents to forget the past and stand united.
Details of Previous Meeting
While no details of the meeting were shared by either party, sources said Banerjee went into the meeting keen to share with Sonia the TMC’s challenges during elections, her views on the future strategy for West Bengal, and ways to strengthen the INDIA alliance and opposition unity. These issues figured in the discussions, sources said. At the INDIA bloc meet on Monday, Banerjee urged the opposition to forget the past and stand united. In an about-turn from her past hostility, Banerjee said at the meet that the Congress should take the lead in the opposition's fight against the BJP.
Setbacks for TMC
Meanwhile, in another setback, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from the Upper House and the party. She is the second RS MP to quit. On Monday, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy had resigned from the Upper House and TMC after levelling allegations against the party. A former Congress leader who had joined the TMC a few years ago, Dev met Rajya Sabha chairman C P Radhakrishnan and resigned from the Upper House. She also met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at his residence in Delhi.
Refusing to make any comment on Mamata Banerjee, Dev said, "What prompted me to take this decision is a long story why I left the party. I don't want to be in a situation where I am in two boats at the same time." On reports of her joining the BJP, she said, "When I take a decision I will let you know." According to news agency PTI, Dev said that she had resigned due to "personal and political reasons" and that "everyone has the right to change their mind, and to decide what kind of politics they want to do."
TMC Leaders Challenge Dissident MPs
On Tuesday, TMC fielded senior leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad to take on dissident MPs and question the claim made by rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar of having support of 20 MPs and writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary bloc that would back the NDA. Demanding that the letter claiming support of 20 MPs should be placed in public domain, Banerjee challenged all dissident MPs to resign from TMC and join BJP.
"Those who went to Union minister Bhupender Yadav’s residence and held meetings with West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari have effectively become BJP. Today, their leader is Narendra Modi. If anyone has political morality, they should resign from Parliament and seek a fresh mandate from the people," Banerjee and Azad said at a press conference held in Delhi on Tuesday morning.
"If the rebel MPs claim they have the numbers required under the Tenth Schedule, then why have they not formally merged with the BJP? The truth is that BJP has not officially accepted them despite their efforts to align with it," the TMC leaders said.
