Bengal Politics: Congress senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, in a surprise move on Thursday, invited Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to re-join Congress along with her remaining MPs and MLAs. His invitation came a day after Banerjee attended the INDIA bloc meeting amid the poll rigging allegations against the Election Commission. While pointing out that both the parties have a common fight, Chowdhury said the Congress workers will work under her leadership.
Chowdhury's Invitation To Mamata
The Congress leader has proposed the merger at a time when Banerjee is dealing with probably the worst phase of her political career. After facing a humiliating defeat in the West Bengal assembly election, majority of her MPs and MLAs switched sides with the ruling NDA. Chowdhury has now suggested the former chief minister to merge her party with the Congress and fight against the saffron force.
"I advise Mamata Banerjee...and I also ask our high command...Why doesn't Mamata Banerjee join the Congress? Why doesn't she join the Congress with all the remaining MPs and MLAs of her party?" the Congress leader said at a press conference.
'Forget Old Days'
The proposal is being considered surprising as Chowdhury has been a vocal critic of Banerjee in the past two decades. The Trinamool also blamed him for a failed alliance talks between the two parties during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, with rise of the BJP in Bengal, the Congress leader is "ready to forger the old days" and work under the leadership of Banerjee.
Will Mamata Re-join Congress?
If Banerjee decides to join Congress, life would take a full circle for her as she left the grand old party in the late 90's to form the Trinamool. However, there has not been any announcement from her side as TMC MP Sougata Roy asserted that the proposal can be considered if made from the Congress high command. If this merger happens, the organization of Congress and popularity of Mamata Baneejee can offer a challenge to the BJP.