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Amid speculations around a possible merger between the TMC and the Congress, the TMC rejected reports as “baseless,” while West Bengal's Congress chief said, “Anything can happen.”
Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee interact in the INDIA Bloc Meeting at Constitution Club of India, in New Delhi on Monday. (Naveen Sharma)Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which is reeling under a crisis, dismissed speculations about its merger with the Congress as "baseless."
TMC sources told the Hindustan Times, "Congress-TMC merger talks are baseless," but "both parties keep doors open for possible alliance."
The rebel TMC group also dismissed rumours of a potential merger between the dissident faction, led by Ritabrata Banerjee, and the Congress.
"Regarding a merger, as for our legislative party, we are certainly not joining the Congress. The MPs in Parliament, more than two-thirds of them, are not merging with the Congress either," said Ritabrata Banerjee, who was recently recognised as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) by the West Bengal Assembly Speaker.
What have Congress leaders said? ‘Anything can happen'
Earlier, on the possibility of the mergers between the INDIA bloc allies, West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar said, "Politics is the art of possibilities. So, anything can happen tomorrow..."
"Our leader, the nation's leader, Rahul Gandhi, has been fighting relentlessly against the RSS ideology and the BJP's dictatorship. He has never compromised. He has been subjected to so much oppression. We want Rahul Gandhi to be the voice of the downtrodden, for the suffering people. He should be the Prime Minister. And our doors are open for anyone who accepts this...," he told ANI.
However, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury categorically distanced himself from the ongoing rumours regarding a potential merger between the Congress and the TMC.
Chowdhury told ANI that he has no information on any such discussions and remains entirely "in the dark."
"I have no information about any merger or such things involving Bengal," he said. "If a formal decision is reached, we will certainly be taken into confidence. If I am asked about it, then I will speak, but right now, I know absolutely nothing," he added.
About the Author
Akriti Anand
Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.<br><br> In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. <br><br> Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. <br><br> One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. <br><br> Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.<br><br> Connect with Akriti here<br> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199">https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199</a><br> Twitter/X: <a href="https://x.com/AkritiAnand7">https://x.com/AkritiAnand7</a><br> Email: akriti.anand@htdigital.in
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