Kolkata:
On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will contest the 2026 state assembly elections without forming any alliances, including with the Congress. This declaration was made during a meeting with TMC legislators at the West Bengal Assembly, just ahead of the budget session.
Banerjee emphasized that the Congress has no significant presence in West Bengal, making an alliance unnecessary. “Congress has nothing in West Bengal. Therefore, there is no question of having an alliance with Congress in the state. Trinamool Congress will contest alone in West Bengal and will form the government for the fourth time in 2026, securing a two-thirds majority,” she stated, as quoted by a senior state cabinet member.
The Chief Minister also criticized the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for their failure to collaborate effectively in recent elections. She pointed out that in Delhi, the Congress did not support the AAP, and in Haryana, the AAP did not support the Congress, leading to the BJP’s victory in both states. Banerjee argued that had these parties remained united, the outcomes would have been different.
During the meeting, Banerjee cautioned some TMC legislators about their recent public statements that had embarrassed the party. She specifically mentioned comments made by legislator Madan Mitra, who claimed that party positions were often bought, and warned that such mistakes would not be tolerated repeatedly. Although Mitra had apologized for his remarks, Banerjee stressed the need for discipline within the party.
Banerjee also addressed the issue of infighting within the party, particularly in districts like Malda and West Burdwan. She instructed the legislators to suggest three names for each party post to senior leader Arup Biswas by February 25, as part of a broader restructuring of the party’s units from the state level to the booth level.
Additionally, Banerjee expressed her dissatisfaction with the arrest of former food minister Jyotipriyo Mallick in the ration scam, calling it “unfair” and stating that there was no evidence against him.
