Delhi Debacle Behind Mamata Banerjee’s 'Fight 2026 Polls Alone' Message To MLAs?

Last Updated:February 11, 2025, 10:04 IST

The TMC chief’s comments show that while she is boosting her MLAs’ confidence ahead of polls, she is also sending a strong message to the Congress, with whom she shares a blow hot, blow cold relationship

Party insiders said Mamata Banerjee, referring to the Delhi election results, mentioned in the meeting that the Congress and AAP had not helped each other in the Capital or in Haryana. (PTI)

West Bengal assembly polls may still be a year away, but Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that her party will fight the 2026 elections alone.

On Monday, during an internal meeting ahead of the Budget Session of Bengal assembly, Banerjee told her MLAs that the TMC will go solo in polls. “We will come back with more than two-thirds majority in Bengal next year. Congress has no stake here," she is said to have told her team.

Party insiders said Banerjee, referring to the Delhi election results, mentioned in the meeting that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had not helped each other in the Capital or in Haryana.

The chief minister’s assertion makes it clear that the TMC — one of the major players of the INDIA bloc — will not tie up with Congress in the state.

Banerjee’s comments show that while she is boosting her MLAs’ confidence ahead of polls, she is also sending a strong message to the Congress, with whom the TMC shares a blow hot, blow cold relationship.

After the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Congress replaced Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury with Subhankar Sarkar as president of the Bengal unit in an effort to mend ties with the Banerjee-led party. Sarkar is known to adopt a softer stand against the TMC compared to his predecessor but the switch does not seem to have worked for the Grand Old Party.

Even in the INDIA bloc, the TMC has kept a distance from the Congress, and after the latter’s debacle in the Delhi polls, Banerjee is clearer about not aligning with the Congress.

TMC minister Shobhondev Chatterjee on Monday said: “Banerjee is the only leader who can fight PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah without any nervousness. There was no alliance with Congress in the last election too and it’s ultimately her call who she wants to align with."

Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, commenting on Banerjee’s decision, called her “clever". “She wants to keep Congress and Left on opposite ends to cut Hindu votes. You should ask Congress why Banerjee said TMC will go alone."

News elections Delhi Debacle Behind Mamata Banerjee’s 'Fight 2026 Polls Alone' Message To MLAs?