Kolkata, Aug 9 (NationPress) A sense of uncertainty is emerging within the West Bengal Congress regarding its potential collaboration or seat-sharing approach for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections. This comes in light of clear indications that the party’s central leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is leaning towards a partnership with the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

This confusion intensified after a recent one-on-one meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee, the General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress. Reports suggest that Banerjee briefed Gandhi on the issues the TMC aims to address against the BJP and the Union government.

The central dilemma facing state Congress leaders is whether to maintain the current seat-sharing arrangement with the CPI(M)-led Left Front, which has been in effect since 2016, or forge a new partnership with the TMC for the 2026 elections.

Officially, the President of the West Bengal Congress, Suvankar Sarkar, stated that any decision regarding alliances or seat-sharing ultimately lies with the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

“There are no directives from the AICC on this matter yet. The decision made by the AICC will be conclusive,” he remarked.

However, a senior figure from the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPPC), who wished to remain anonymous, suggested that aligning with the TMC could leave the state Congress vulnerable to the ruling party's whims.

“We would lose our negotiating power regarding seat-sharing, and the state Congress would have to accept whatever minimal offers come from the TMC leadership. This mirrors our experiences in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the 2011 West Bengal assembly elections,” he stated.

The source further noted that since the 2016 elections, Congress has enjoyed a favorable negotiating position with the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

Another senior Congress leader voiced concerns that a compromise with the TMC could lead to a decline in Congress’s voter base in the region.

“In such a scenario, dedicated Congress supporters disillusioned with the TMC might choose to back the BJP or the Left Front. The likelihood of loyal Congress members switching to the BJP cannot be overlooked,” he cautioned.

He highlighted that Congress's vote share in West Bengal during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was merely 4.72%. “It remains to be seen how much this figure will diminish following the 2026 assembly elections if a partnership with the TMC is established,” he concluded.