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TMC leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad deny any merger with Congress, call reports baseless, focus shifts to rebel TMC MPs planning to meet Speaker Om Birla.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee.
Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kalyan Banerjee has dismissed speculation that a faction of the party could merge with the Congress amid growing uncertainty over the future of several dissident MPs.
According to ANI, the rumours gained momentum after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi last week, while TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a separate meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The meetings triggered speculation that a section of the TMC could align more closely with the Congress as internal tensions within the party continue to grow.
However, Kalyan Banerjee firmly rejected the reports.
“We are not merging with the Congress,” he said.
Sharp Attack on Rebel MPs
Banerjee also took aim at dissident TMC MPs who are reportedly preparing to approach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to formalise their split from the party.
“Let them do what they want. They will have to live under the shelter of the BJP. All this is a ploy. They cite the reason as development of their constituencies, but those who cannot even visit their constituencies, so what work will they do?” he said.
The TMC leader alleged that the BJP and state machinery were targeting his party and questioned the rebels’ claims that joining another political formation would help bring development to their constituencies.
“No Opposition in West Bengal has ever faced such a thing as what we are facing. The 19 MPs who are going to BJP will not be accepted by the BJP,” he added.
Kirti Azad Also Rejects Merger Reports
TMC MP Kirti Azad also denied reports of a possible merger between the Trinamool Congress and the Congress.
Speaking in New Delhi, Azad described the reports as incorrect and said the two parties would continue to work together under the INDIA bloc framework.
“There will be no merger; that is all incorrect news. The election will be contested as an alliance, and the alliance will remain intact,” he said.
Congress Calls Reports ‘Baseless’
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal had earlier rejected speculation about a merger, calling such claims “baseless rumours.”
According to Venugopal, the recent meetings between Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi, as well as between Abhishek Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi, were routine discussions focused on strengthening the INDIA alliance.
“Everybody wants to strengthen the INDIA alliance. Everybody wants to strengthen the fight against this anti-democratic government. We will go together in that way. That is only the discussion point, nothing else,” Venugopal said.
Focus Shifts to Speaker Meeting
The political spotlight is now on the group of rebel TMC MPs expected to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to submit their dissent and outline their future course of action.
With reports suggesting that a significant number of TMC MPs could desert Mamata Banerjee’s camp, the developments are being closely watched as a potential turning point in West Bengal politics.
For now, Mamata Banerjee has not publicly commented on the reports, and all eyes are on the next steps taken by the dissident lawmakers.
Delhi, India, India
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