Saugata Roy, a Member of Parliament for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), said the party should work with the Indian National Congress [1].
This potential shift in strategy comes as the TMC navigates an internal crisis characterized by election setbacks and high-level departures. A closer partnership with Congress could consolidate the opposition vote in West Bengal to better counter the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [2].
Roy said the party is considering multiple paths for cooperation. "It is important for us to work with Congress," Roy said [1]. He said the party would evaluate whether a formal merger or a strategic alliance is the more viable path forward [3].
The push for unity follows a period of instability within the TMC. Three Rajya Sabha MPs resigned within a single week amid allegations of the BJP's "Operation Lotus" [5]. These resignations have intensified discussions regarding the party's stability and its need for stronger external partnerships [2].
Roy's comments suggest a willingness to bridge the gap between the two parties, a move that would align the TMC with the broader national opposition framework. The party is currently addressing the fallout from these resignations while attempting to stabilize its leadership in West Bengal [4].
"That much I can say. We will see whether a merger happens or an alliance," Roy said [3].
“"It is important for us to work with Congress."”
The openness to a merger or alliance suggests that the TMC may no longer view it as sustainable to fight both the BJP and the Congress simultaneously in West Bengal. By consolidating these forces, the TMC aims to mitigate the impact of internal defections and create a more formidable bloc against the BJP's regional growth.
