There's No longer Any Talk Of Merger Between TMC And Congress

It has been reported that the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are mulling a merger but it has been ruled out as a mere rumour. Sources close to the issue have shed light that neither party is considering such a proposal. But on the other side, both sides have been keeping the lines of communication open and have been in contact on shared issues that could lead to a political alliance.

The speculation grew even stronger after a meeting between the senior Congress leaders and Mamata Banerjee (TMC) in Delhi. In the background of these developments, the two leaders met Abhishek Banerjee in the midst of discussion on the possibility of enhancing the coordination between their respective parties, and they agreed to have the next meeting of the INDIA bloc in Hyderabad.

This political noise comes at a time of a serious internal turmoil in the TMC. The party is facing a revolt by 64 of its MLAs and increasing discontent within the party's parliamentary ranks. In the recent series of defeats, MP (Rajya Sabha) Sushmita Dev has stepped down from the party and the Upper House, just after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray resigned on June 8. In addition, a group of 20 MPs of the TMC has also formally asked the Lok Sabha Speaker for separate seating as they intend to function in conjunction with the state and central governments.

To make it even more complicated, the rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee has laid claim to the party and asserted that his splinter group is the “true” TMC. He made it clear that there wasn't a single thought in the rebel camp to join the Congress as it had declared that it will remain under the Trinamool Congress banner.He said that the rebel camp has no intention of integrating into the Congress, and it has the support of most of the party's legislators.