Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Mamata Banerjee Defers Rahul Gandhi 2029 Prime Minister Question
Mamata Banerjee was asked whether she would support Rahul Gandhi for prime minister in the 2029 election.
She did not give a direct yes or no.
She said the opposition parties are like one family.
She said they would choose their leader later.
Banerjee recently helped bring opposition parties together for a meeting.
The meeting discussed a disagreement involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and other election commissioners.
She said she could campaign for several opposition parties if they asked her.
She also suggested that the opposition alliance might hold a rally in Kolkata.
Mamata Banerjee declined to say whether she would support Rahul Gandhi as the Opposition bloc’s prime ministerial candidate in 2029.
Banerjee said the INDIA bloc was “one family” and would decide its leader when the time came.
She supported an urgent INDIA bloc meeting to discuss tensions involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the other commissioners.
Banerjee said she was willing to campaign for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party if asked.
She indicated that an INDIA bloc rally in Kolkata, potentially bringing the Trinamool Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) together, was possible.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the INDIA bloc opposition alliance.
- What
- Banerjee avoided committing to Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 general election.
- When
- The remarks followed a recently held INDIA bloc meeting; the election is scheduled for 2029.
- Where
- The discussion concerned the national opposition alliance, with a possible future rally in Kolkata.
- Why
- Banerjee said the alliance would decide its prime ministerial face when the time came, while she supported unity over an issue involving the Election Commission.
- Election discussed
- India’s 2029 general election
- Alliance
- INDIA bloc
- Banerjee’s response
- She declined to say whether she would support Rahul Gandhi.
- Her stated position
- The alliance is “one family” and will decide its leader later.
- Meeting issue
- A conflict involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the other two commissioners.
- Campaign offer
- Banerjee said she could campaign for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party if asked.
- Possible event
- An INDIA bloc rally in Kolkata was indicated as a possibility.