Mamata-Pawar merger with Congress? Senior leader's explosive claim ignites political debate

The speculation over a possible merger between the Congress and the TMC was initially dismissed by the Congress leadership, with party general secretary K.C. Venugopal, describing the reports as "baseless rumours".

However, senior Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole has reignited the debate by suggesting that not only Mamata Banerjee but also veteran leader Sharad Pawar could be considering a return to the Congress fold.

Nana Patole Fuels Merger Speculation

Patole claimed that Pawar and Mamata, both of whom had floated their own parties after breaking away from the Congress, were now preparing for a political "ghar wapsi".

"Sharad Pawar and Mamata Banerjee are making up their mind for a merger with the Congress," Patole told reporters, as quoted by NDTV, ruling out an alliance and instead speaking of a full-fledged merger.

According to Patole, like-minded parties are increasingly warming up to the idea of merging with the Congress.

Sonia Gandhi (L) hugging Mamata Banerjee (R) at INDIA bloc meeting. Photo: AITC/Facebook

He further claimed that Pawar had already floated the idea of a merger between the Congress and the NCP-SP and that discussions were underway.

"The proposal from the NCP, from Pawar Saheb, had already been given earlier but got delayed due to some reasons. But I feel that with whatever is happening in the country's politics right now, and to stop the large-scale division of votes, all parties that have secular and pluralistic ideologies should unite," Patole said.

"This process has now begun at the national level, and whether it is the Trinamool Congress or Pawar Saheb, all are now showing the willingness to merge with Congress," he added.

Meetings Spark Political Buzz

Speculation gathered momentum after Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, attended the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi earlier this week.

Mamata has historically adopted a selective approach towards INDIA bloc meetings, often deputing senior party leaders to represent the Trinamool Congress.

Following the meeting, Mamata called on senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, while Abhishek Banerjee met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, further fuelling political chatter.

A Relationship Shaped by Political History

Mamata Banerjee spent more than two decades in the Congress before breaking away in 1998 over differences with the party's leadership in West Bengal.

She had criticised the Congress for what she saw as a lack of focus on the state and its inability to effectively challenge the then-ruling Left Front government.

Mamata subsequently founded the Trinamool Congress, which went on to emerge as the principal opposition force in West Bengal before ending the Left Front's 34-year rule in the landmark 2011 Assembly election.