NEW DELHI: Amid apparent rift in INDIA bloc after Maharashtra and now Delhi loss, Trinamool Congress’s Abhishek Banerjee has seemingly delivered another blow to the opposition alliance.
The Diamond Harbour MP hinted at a possible solo run for the party in the West Bengal polls scheduled for 2026. Banerjee suggested that TMC had performed better when contesting independently, while leaving the door open for discussions on alliances.
“Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has already made it clear that we will fight alone in Bengal. This is nothing new. We fought alone in 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2024. We performed well then, and we will do so again,” he said.
“We are part of the INDIA bloc for a larger cause. But in Bengal, we have always fought alone and won. We will do it again,” he added.
While he acknowledged the importance of alliances at the national level, he said the party had historically performed well when fighting solo. However, he added, “Let’s wait, we have a lot of time.”
TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier ruled out any alliance with Congress in the state elections. According to TMC’s mouthpiece ‘Jago Bangla,’ she told party legislators, “Trinamool will return to power with a two-thirds majority in 2026. We do not need anyone’s help. We will fight alone and win alone.”
Her comments prompted sharp reactions from the Congress’s West Bengal unit, which claimed that regional parties had realised their mistake of ignoring Congress after the Delhi polls. Congress leaders cited AAP’s losses in Delhi as proof that a divided opposition only helped the BJP.
The BJP, meanwhile, dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s assertions, claiming that the people of Bengal were ready to reject the ruling party over alleged corruption and nepotism. BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar, drew comparisons between Bengal and Delhi, arguing that welfare schemes may not translate into electoral gains.
Following Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s removal as state Congress president and the appointment of Subhankar Sarkar, speculation arose about a possible understanding between Congress and TMC. However, Mamata Banerjee firmly rejected the idea, saying, “There is no question of an alliance. Trinamool will fight alone and secure a historic victory. The Congress doesn’t have any presence in Bengal.”
While the TMC, Congress, and CPI(M) are all part of the INDIA bloc at the national level, political alliances in West Bengal remain uncertain. Congress and the Left had aligned against both TMC and BJP in previous elections.
BJP leaders, however, remain confident that the party will emerge victorious, regardless of TMC’s strategy. BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, “Whether TMC fights alone or with Congress, the result will be the same. The people of Bengal want to get rid of corruption and nepotism.”