Kolkata, 01 October (H.S.): A day after the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday appealed to Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee to return to the Congress fold along with her remaining legislators and parliamentarians. However, the merger invitation was accompanied by a specific condition, asking her to leave her baggage behind, a remark widely interpreted as a veiled swipe at her nephew and TMC National General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee.

Speaking in the aftermath of the opposition alliance's meeting in the national capital, Chowdhury asserted that there is no longer a need for the TMC to maintain a separate political entity, especially following its significant setbacks in the recent assembly elections. He urged Banerjee to merge her party with the Congress, assuring her that he would advocate for her return before the Congress high command. He further promised that the state Congress unit would gladly accept her leadership in West Bengal and work under her guidance.

Appealing to the Congress central leadership to facilitate this potential merger, Chowdhury also suggested that Banerjee should demonstrate political cooperation by supporting the Congress candidate in the upcoming Rejinagar assembly by-election, mirroring her recent support for the Congress nominee in the October 6 Nandigram bypoll. He remarked that since she has sought refuge within the Congress-led INDIA alliance, it would be prudent for her to officially rejoin the grand old party. This statement comes just a day after Banerjee projected a united opposition front in Delhi while demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Chowdhury's proposal arrives at a time when the TMC is navigating one of its deepest organizational crises since its inception. Following the assembly election results, the party has witnessed severe rebellions across its legislative and parliamentary wings. Within weeks of the election verdict, the TMC legislature party split, with 58 rebel MLAs extending their support to expelled leader Ritabrata Banerjee, a faction that was subsequently recognized by the Assembly Speaker. Concurrently, a parallel rebellion has been brewing among TMC parliamentarians who are openly challenging Banerjee's leadership.

Responding to the development, veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy clarified that the party would only consider such a proposal if it is formally presented by the central Congress leadership.

Dismissing Chowdhury's personal remarks, Roy emphasized that the TMC remains an independent political party and a crucial component of the opposition alliance. Addressing the baggage comment, Roy staunchly defended Abhishek Banerjee, stating that no organizational decision could be taken without the National General Secretary, reaffirming his indispensable position within the party. Mamata Banerjee famously parted ways with the Congress in 1998 to establish the Trinamool Congress.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh