Senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Congress have stepped up political engagement, with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee meeting Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday.

The meeting has fuelled discussions about stronger cooperation between the two parties. However, TMC leaders dismissed speculation about a possible merger, calling such reports “baseless”.

According to a senior TMC leader familiar with the discussions, the two leaders reviewed several political issues, including the future strategy of the INDIA alliance and ways to strengthen cooperation between opposition parties.

INDIA Alliance and Opposition Strategy Discussed

Sources said Abhishek Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi discussed the road ahead for the INDIA bloc and explored ways to improve coordination among opposition parties.

The conversation also touched on Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks about alleged “vote chori” (vote theft), which he raised during the INDIA alliance meeting.

“There were also some political discussions related to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks at the INDIA meeting on vote chori (vote theft),” a senior TMC leader said.

The leader added that both sides focused on enhancing cooperation within the opposition camp ahead of future political battles.

Meeting Follows Mamata Banerjee-Sonia Gandhi Talks

Abhishek Banerjee's meeting came just a day after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her Delhi residence.

The meeting lasted around 50 minutes and marked the first interaction between the two leaders in five years.

Mamata Banerjee had last met Sonia Gandhi in 2021 after securing a third consecutive term as West Bengal Chief Minister.

The back-to-back meetings have attracted attention because they come at a difficult time for the TMC.

TMC Faces Political Challenges

The TMC has suffered several setbacks in recent months.

The party lost the West Bengal elections and has also witnessed internal unrest. Out of its 78 MLAs, 59 have reportedly moved away from the party, while two legislators were expelled.

The party is also facing the possibility of a split among its Lok Sabha members. In the Rajya Sabha, two of its 13 MPs have already resigned.

These developments have increased pressure on the TMC leadership and intensified discussions about political realignment.

Congress Leader Highlights TMC's Changed Approach

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he had no information about any merger talks but noted that the TMC's attitude towards Congress appears to have changed after facing political setbacks.

“I am not an astrologer. I have no information about any merger or such things involving Bengal. Perhaps if a formal decision is reached on any matter, we will certainly be taken into confidence. Regarding the TMC party, you can all see that the party has been scattered, the senior leaders of the party are running around...For so long, they never felt the need to meet with Congress party leaders. Now, however, they feel that perhaps they should.”

His remarks reflected the growing political discussion around possible cooperation between the two parties.

Alliance in Bengal No Longer Ruled Out

Political observers note that the TMC has not ruled out an alliance with Congress in West Bengal, a position it largely avoided during the past 14 years.

A senior TMC leader described Wednesday's meeting as highly positive.

“There was a solid bonding,” the leader said while commenting on the interaction between Abhishek Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi.

Interestingly, Mamata Banerjee first came to power in West Bengal in 2011 as part of an alliance with Congress.

However, relations later deteriorated. In September 2012, Congress ministers resigned from Mamata's government after the TMC withdrew support from the UPA government at the Centre.

Congress Sees Potential Benefit in Cooperation

Some Congress leaders believe closer ties could benefit Mamata Banerjee politically at this stage.

“In this situation, a tie up with the Congress is beneficial for Mamata,” a senior Congress leader said.

TMC leaders also highlighted the importance of the latest discussions by pointing out that the scheduled 45-minute meeting between Abhishek Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi eventually lasted 88 minutes.

They viewed the extended duration as a sign of meaningful engagement between the two sides.

Further Discussions Expected Soon

TMC leaders said both parties have been coordinating closely on political planning and scheduling.

According to leaders from both camps, they even agreed that Congress representatives would handle media interactions instead of having all alliance leaders address reporters.

Sources said Sonia Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee mainly discussed issues related to the INDIA alliance. Towards the end of their meeting, both sides agreed that further discussions between the two parties would be necessary.

The TMC leadership is also expected to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in the coming days.

Political Analysts Remain Sceptical

Not everyone is convinced that closer ties between the TMC and Congress will produce meaningful results.

Kolkata-based political commentator Suman Chattopadhyay questioned the usefulness of the meetings.

“The Congress should go with the Left in West Bengal for its revival. Gandhis should not forget how Mamata won the 2011 elections with the help of the Congress and for the next 15 years, she tried her best to demolish the Congress in West Bengal.”

Despite the scepticism, the recent series of meetings between top TMC and Congress leaders signals a renewed effort to strengthen opposition unity and reassess political strategies as both parties navigate changing political realities.