Archive · 18 Sep 2026
TMC and Congress Reunite for Bengal Bypoll Battle
Mamata Banerjee leads the TMC in Bengal, while Rahul Gandhi is a senior Congress leader.
The two parties have often competed against each other.
They recently began cooperating after the Election Commission took action affecting the TMC’s name and symbol.
Rahul Gandhi said they would work together to defeat the BJP.
The TMC then withdrew its candidate in Nandigram and supported a Congress candidate.
Mamata Banerjee has also spoken about bringing the INDIA bloc back together.
Some Congress workers worry this cooperation could continue beyond the bypolls.
They fear that would make it harder for Congress to grow in Bengal.
A phone call between Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee brought the TMC and Congress closer after Election Commission action against the TMC.
The TMC withdrew its Nandigram candidate, Sanchita Pradhan (Dey), and backed Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.
Rahul Gandhi has made his opposition to the Election Commission and alleged “vote chori” central political themes.
Mamata Banerjee has begun discussing a possible revival of the INDIA bloc after previously keeping her distance from it.
Bengal Congress workers fear a longer alliance could weaken their efforts to replace the TMC as a major force in the state.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, the Election Commission, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- The TMC and Congress have begun cooperating in a Bengal bypoll, with the TMC withdrawing its Nandigram candidate and backing Congress.
- When
- The development was reported on September 18, 2026; the cooperation concerns the bypolls.
- Where
- West Bengal, including the Nandigram constituency.
- Why
- The parties were brought closer after Election Commission action against the TMC, while both leaders identified defeating the BJP as a shared objective.
TMC-Congress Cooperation
Bengal Congress Concerns
Purpose of the alliance
TMC-Congress Cooperation
The TMC and Congress leadership see cooperation as a way to respond to Election Commission action and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Bengal Congress Concerns
Congress workers had hoped to benefit from the TMC’s weakness and occupy more political space in Bengal instead of sharing it with the TMC.
How long it may last
TMC-Congress Cooperation
The immediate arrangement is for the bypolls, and Mamata Banerjee has also discussed reviving the INDIA bloc.
Bengal Congress Concerns
Bengal Congress workers fear the arrangement could continue beyond the bypolls and damage their party’s prospects in the state.
Political relationship
TMC-Congress Cooperation
The phone conversation and candidate withdrawal show that former rivals can cooperate when facing a common challenge.
Bengal Congress Concerns
The parties have a history of conflict, share much of the same voter base, and the TMC previously expanded at Congress’s expense.
- Reported date
- September 18, 2026
- Parties involved
- Trinamool Congress and Congress
- Leaders involved
- Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi
- TMC action
- Withdrew Sanchita Pradhan (Dey) from the Nandigram contest
- Congress candidate backed
- Milan Pradhan
- Stated common target
- Defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party
- Main concern
- Bengal Congress workers fear the cooperation could become a long-term alliance