Kolkata

 

Speculation over Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee’s possible alignment with the Congress has generated a fresh political debate, with senior Congress leaders in West Bengal offering mixed reactions to the reports. 

 

The buzz comes amid claims in political circles that the Congress leadership is exploring a larger opposition realignment following recent electoral setbacks suffered by the Trinamool Congress. 

 

Sources suggested that Congress President Sonia Gandhi has offered former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the post of the party's All India Vice President, while Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee is said to have been offered a national-level organisational role. However, there has been no official confirmation from either the Congress or the Trinamool Congress. 

 

The speculation gained further momentum after reports emerged that Congress General Secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal will hold a meeting of state Congress presidents on Thursday. 

 

Reacting to the developments, former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee chief and veteran Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury maintained that his political differences with the Trinamool Congress had never been personal.

 

“I never had any personal animosity with Trinamool leaders or the party. Trinamool tried to finish my party politically, and I fought to protect the Congress. I considered it my political duty,”Chowdhury said. 

 

Taking a swipe at Mamata Banerjee, he added, “Who is approaching whom is for them to explain. But it is true that Mamata is coming now only after losing the election. Earlier, she never came. Whether there is a merger or demerger taking place, I do not know. If my party takes any decision, it will inform everyone.”

 

West Bengal Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar struck a more accommodative note. Without directly referring to Mamata Banerjee, he indicated that the Congress would welcome leaders willing to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. 

 

“Politics is an art of possibilities. If anyone wishes to join our party accepting Rahul Gandhi’s leadership and has the determination and strength to fight the BJP, we will certainly welcome that person,” Sarkar said.

 

Senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan, however, remained sceptical about any such political rapprochement. Questioning Banerjee’s credibility, Mannan remarked, “Nobody can place complete trust in Mamata Banerjee’s political conduct. Her credibility in national politics has reached a low point. Everyone knows that, including Sonia Gandhi. There was a time when it was said that the Left could be trusted more than Mamata.”

 

As speculation continues to swirl, neither the Congress high command nor the Trinamul Congress has issued any formal statement, leaving political observers glued to the developments. 

 

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