Speaking to reporters, Congress Organisation General Secretary KC Venugopal dismissed suggestions that recent high-level interactions between leaders of the two parties were linked to any merger discussions. He said the meetings were part of routine engagements under the INDIA alliance framework and should not be interpreted as negotiations for political integration.
“How can I respond to rumours and speculation?” Venugopal said when questioned about the possibility of a merger. Emphasising the opposition’s broader political objective, he added, “Of course, we will work together against the anti-democratic BJP government.”
Political speculation intensified following two significant meetings held within a span of two days. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, while TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee held discussions with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.
The meetings took place against the backdrop of growing turmoil within the Trinamool Congress following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly election. Mamata Banerjee is facing mounting challenges in maintaining control over the party as a majority of its Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament have reportedly rebelled and formed separate groups.
According to sources, the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee was part of continuing communication between the two parties after the opposition bloc’s recent gathering. The discussion reportedly lasted around one and a half hours.
Sources indicated that Abhishek Banerjee conveyed the Trinamool Congress leadership’s desire for a strong opposition alliance and expressed acceptance of Rahul Gandhi’s leadership role within the opposition grouping.
Congress leaders have also clarified that any proposal regarding a merger would have to originate from the Trinamool Congress and that the party is not actively pursuing such a move.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar declined to completely rule out the possibility of future political developments, stating that politics remains a field of evolving possibilities.
“Politics is the art of possibilities. So, anything can happen tomorrow,” Sarkar said.
He further expressed support for Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, saying, “We want Rahul Gandhi to be the voice of the downtrodden, for the suffering people. He should be the Prime Minister. And our doors are open for anyone who accepts this. Someone who lacks the guts will not join Congress. The wrong person will look for a washing machine.”
The Congress and the Trinamool Congress share a long and complex political history. Mamata Banerjee founded the Trinamool Congress in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress. The two parties later joined forces to defeat the Left Front government in West Bengal in 2011, although their alliance collapsed the following year. Despite subsequent political rivalry, both parties became partners in the INDIA bloc ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The latest exchange between the leadership of the two parties has once again sparked debate over the future of opposition politics. However, Congress has categorically maintained that reports of a merger remain speculative and without any factual basis, even as both parties continue to coordinate within the INDIA alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party.
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