NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday cautioned West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee against taking charge of the INDIA bloc, which he described as a “dead” front incapable of revival. Referring to the 2026 assembly polls, Sarma questioned why Banerjee would want to lead the opposition bloc when she could focus on preparing for the upcoming elections.
“You (Mamata Banerjee) are a chief minister and have to work for Bengal and fight elections in the coming days. Why do you want to take leadership of a dead alliance, which will never be reborn?” he asked.
Haryana minister Anil Vij also weighed in on the power tussle and said that Rahul Gandhi has failed, and the alliance’s plan to replace its “engine” will not yield any dividends. “From the first day, we have been saying that ‘Pappu fail ho gaya’. Now his friends have admitted the same. No one can drive their (INDIA Bloc) car. They want to change the engine again, but it will not work,” said Vij.
The BJP ‘s remarks come as Mamata Banerjee expressed “gratitude” to opposition leaders who supported her statement about being ready to lead the INDIA bloc, if required. Banerjee said last week that she could manage the dual responsibility of heading the opposition alliance while continuing her role as the chief minister of West Bengal.
While Banerjee’s pitch garnered support from within the TMC, it also found backing from leaders within the INDIA bloc. On Tuesday, RJD leader Lalu Prasad endorsed Banerjee’s potential leadership, dismissing Congress’s concerns as “insignificant.”
Sharad Pawar had earlier praised her competence and the effectiveness of her parliamentary representatives. Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also indicated openness to non-Congress leadership discussions. Raut acknowledged Congress’s position as the largest opposition party but suggested several potential leaders, including Banerjee, Uddhav Thackeray, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Pawar, and Akhilesh Yadav, to strengthen the alliance.
The YSR Congress Party, although not currently affiliated with the INDIA bloc, also voiced support for Banerjee. YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy described her as the most ‘suitable’ candidate to head the coalition, pointing to her experience in governing a major state and managing diverse portfolios.
Meanwhile, Congress West Bengal unit has accused TMC’s Banerjee of playing together with the BJP. “. Any alliance partner may claim and want to lead the INDIA bloc. However, Mamata Banerjee ji’s action has on several occasions provided oxygen to the BJP and derailed a united opposition front when the BJP is in crisis,” West Bengal Congress Sarkar wrote on X.
Though the TMC supported the move to submit a notice oust VP and Rajya Sabha chair Dhankar, it had distanced itself from week long protests outside Parliament over the Adani issue, demanding the need to focus on other matters. After disruptions in Parliament on Wednesday, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee hit out at both the BJP and Congress, saying “Parliamentary democracy does not depend upon the Congress and the BJP”.
“The House is adjourned because of the Congress and the BJP. The House will continue only at the discretion of the Congress and the BJP… This is not proper. There are so many parties. One day Congress wants to continue, and the BJP disrupts. Another day, the BJP tries to proceed, and the Congress creates disturbances. The rest of the parties can’t speak anywhere. The BJP, as the ruling party, gets preference, and the Congress, as the main opposition, gets preference. We cannot even raise the conditions of our states,” he said.