Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Adhir urges Mamata to rejoin Congress amid TMC crisis
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked Mamata Banerjee to bring her remaining TMC members into Congress.
He said Congress would allow her to lead its work in West Bengal.
The request came after the TMC performed poorly in the 2026 Assembly election.
The TMC won 80 of 294 seats, while the BJP became the largest party.
The TMC’s lawmakers then split, with 58 rebel MLAs supporting Ritabrata Banerjee as opposition leader.
Rebel TMC MPs also challenged Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and backed the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.
Sougata Roy said the TMC would discuss a merger only if Congress made an official proposal.
He also said Abhishek Banerjee must be involved in any decision about the party.
Mamata Banerjee originally left Congress and formed the TMC in 1998.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged Mamata Banerjee and remaining TMC lawmakers to join Congress.
Chowdhury said Congress would accept Banerjee’s leadership and work under her in West Bengal.
The TMC won 80 of 294 Assembly seats in the 2026 election, while the BJP became the largest party.
Fifty-eight rebel TMC MLAs backed expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as opposition leader, with the Speaker recognising their bloc.
TMC MP Sougata Roy said the party would consider a merger only after a formal Congress proposal.
- Who
- Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury proposed that TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and the party’s remaining lawmakers join Congress; TMC MP Sougata Roy responded.
- What
- Chowdhury offered to accept Banerjee’s leadership in West Bengal if she and remaining TMC MLAs and MPs joined Congress.
- When
- The proposal was made on Thursday, October 1, after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election.
- Where
- The political dispute concerns West Bengal; Chowdhury made the remarks in Baharampur and the report was datelined Kolkata.
- Why
- Chowdhury cited the TMC’s election defeat, rebellions in its legislative and parliamentary wings, and Banerjee’s participation in the Congress-led INDIA alliance.
Merger Advocates
Merger Skeptics
Whether the TMC should merge with Congress
Merger Advocates
Chowdhury argued that little remained of the TMC after its election defeat and urged Banerjee and the remaining lawmakers to join Congress.
Merger Skeptics
Sougata Roy said the TMC remains a separate party and would consider the matter only after receiving a formal proposal from Congress leadership.
Mamata Banerjee’s leadership
Merger Advocates
Chowdhury said Congress was prepared to accept Banerjee’s leadership and work under her in West Bengal.
Merger Skeptics
Roy said no decision about the TMC could be made without Abhishek Banerjee, whom he identified as the party’s leader and national general secretary.
The TMC’s political relevance
Merger Advocates
The BJP argued that the TMC had lost its political purpose after leaving power and that its political trajectory was over.
Merger Skeptics
TMC leaders said the party remains separate and part of the INDIA alliance, while Roy left open discussions if Congress submitted a formal proposal.
- TMC Assembly result
- The TMC won 80 of the 294 seats in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election.
- Largest party
- The BJP emerged as the largest party in the Assembly election.
- Legislative rebellion
- Fifty-eight rebel MLAs backed expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition, and the Assembly Speaker recognised their bloc.
- Congress offer
- Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Congress would accept Mamata Banerjee’s leadership in West Bengal.
- TMC response
- Sougata Roy said the matter would be discussed only if Congress leadership made a formal proposal.
- Parliamentary rebellion
- The report says rebel TMC MPs challenged Banerjee’s leadership, joined NCPI and supported the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.
- Political history
- Mamata Banerjee left Congress and formed the TMC in 1998; the party ended the Left Front’s 34-year rule in Bengal in 2011.
