According to reports, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met early in the morning only one day before the opposition INDIA group gathered in Mumbai. Although neither party has acknowledged that the meeting really occurred, commentators argue that it has significant political repercussions for West Bengal.
The role of INDIA in 2024 as well as tensions between the Congress and TMC at the federal and state levels, according to sources, may have been on the table.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) administration at the Centre included the two parties, who had previously been longtime allies and campaigned together. However, in the last two to three years, their relationship has deteriorated. The TMC was accused by the Congress of stealing away some important figures like Sushmita Dev and Mukul Sangma.
There have been concerns about the Congress and TMC’s ability to cooperate even with the INDIA bloc coming together. According to analysts, the rumored meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee would be very significant in such a situation.
TMC members believe that everything discussed at such a gathering would be beneficial for Trinamool since they are in West Bengal’s ruling party.
However, the news of such a gathering seems to have angered many Congress leaders in Bengal. Kaustav Bagchi, the state-based spokesman for the party who has previously expressed opposition as well, said once again on Facebook that any agreement with the TMC is impossible.
The Congress is now necessary to Mamata Banerjee. Thus, the purpose of these gatherings. However, the Congress has to know that we local employees won’t be supporting this in any way, he continued.
While TMC head Mamata Banerjee and previous Congress president Sonia Gandhi have a strong relationship, the same cannot be said of her relationships with Rahul. But matters seem to have been resolved between the two recently.
Experts speculate that since the TMC wants to grow, there may have been negotiations between the two parties concerning election changes outside of West Bengal as well.
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently attacked the newly discovered amity between the Congress and TMC. “I wonder how the families of the Congress workers who were killed by TMC-affiliated individuals in the recent panchayat elections would be feeling now,” BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul stated. What will occur? Adhirda (state Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury), please answer my query.