Mamata Banerjee Signals Inclusion of More Parties in INDIA Bloc
New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee, the former chief minister of West Bengal, suggested on Thursday that the INDIA alliance may be open to adding more opposition parties, including the DMK. She emphasized that any decision regarding the alliance’s leadership would be made collectively.
During her first press conference in Delhi since the Trinamool Congress (TMC) lost the West Bengal assembly elections to the BJP, Banerjee called for the immediate resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. She accused him of manipulating the election process to favor the BJP and stressed the need for reform in the electoral system to protect democracy.
Banerjee was joined by her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, who is also a prominent leader in the TMC.
Her comments came shortly after participating in a meeting of the INDIA bloc, where various opposition parties discussed issues related to the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The alliance has since launched a joint campaign against the election commission.
When asked about the possibility of parties like the DMK joining the INDIA alliance, Banerjee acknowledged that they faced local issues with the Congress while also touching upon her active communication with multiple political groups. She emphasized the importance of unity during trying times, stating, “When the country is facing a crisis, our priority should be to save the country.”
Banerjee mentioned her positive relationships with various political leaders, including Naveen Patnaik, the chief of the Biju Janata Dal, and Arvind Kejriwal from the AAP. She also revealed that she had discussions with DMK leader Kanimozhi and CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby.
Regarding the leadership of the alliance, she reiterated that a collective decision was necessary, asserting, “INDIA alliance will continue its unity. We will see how far they (BJP) can go.”
She expressed confidence that the BJP would be ousted in the 2029 elections and mentioned ongoing communication with the youth of the opposing party.
In a recent call to action, Banerjee urged INDIA bloc partners not to delay in grassroots work, a plea supported by Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi during the meeting.
Both Banerjee and Abhishek accused Gyanesh Kumar of aiding the BJP’s success in West Bengal, describing the SIR initiative as favorable to the ruling party. They claimed that police stations in the state were operating like BJP offices and that central forces had pressured voters against the TMC. Abhishek highlighted that in 150 constituencies, the margin of victory was less than the number of voters removed from the electoral rolls.
Congress Leader Urges Mamata to Return
On the same day, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury publicly invited Mamata Banerjee to rejoin the Congress, suggesting that she could lead the party’s Bengal unit. Chowdhury connected her recent involvement with the Congress-led INDIA bloc to his proposal, stating, “As she has taken shelter in the Congress-led INDIA alliance, she should join the party.”
He noted the diminished presence of the TMC following its electoral loss, urging Banerjee to bring her remaining lawmakers into the Congress fold.
In response, TMC MP Sougata Roy mentioned that while the proposal was noted, it would only be considered if officially presented by Congress leadership. “The TMC is a separate party now. If Congress wants to come with an official proposal, we will discuss the matter in the party,” he said, reaffirming that the TMC remains committed to the INDIA alliance.
