Congress rules out Trinamool alliance despite backing Mamata in symbol row
Synopsis
Congress is backing Mamata Banerjee's faction in the ECI symbol row but firmly shutting the door on any electoral alliance with TMC in West Bengal — citing years of alleged harassment of its grassroots workers. The arrest of its Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan is now being weaponised to position Congress as the primary BJP challenger in the state.
Key Takeaways
Congress has ruled out any electoral understanding with Trinamool Congress in West Bengal , despite backing the Mamata faction in the ECI symbol row .
Senior state Congress leadership cited TMC's alleged attempts to break the party between 2011 and 2016 as a key reason for the stand.
Milan Pradhan , Congress candidate for the Nandigram bypoll , was arrested by West Bengal Police on Friday in an old murder case dating to 2007 .
Congress plans to use Pradhan's arrest as a national-level political issue targeting the BJP .
A Supreme Court senior advocate is reportedly set to represent Pradhan; he was to be produced in court on Saturday .
The Indian National Congress (INC) has ruled out any electoral understanding with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, even as the party has expressed support for the Mamata Banerjee-led faction in its ongoing dispute with the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the freezing of the party's original name and symbol. The stance was confirmed by senior state and national leadership as of 19 September 2026.
Congress Position on Alliance
A senior West Bengal Congress leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that any electoral arrangement with any of the three factions within the Trinamool Congress would be deeply unpopular at the grassroots level. 'We (Congress) have made our arguments very clear to our high command. Any kind of understanding with any of the three factions within Trinamool Congress will not be taken lightly by the grassroots level Congress workers,' the leader said.
The leader cited the period between 2011 and 2016, during which the TMC allegedly made repeated attempts to poach Congress members in the state. 'Our party workers have not forgotten the kind of tortures and humiliations they faced during the previous Trinamool Congress government,' he added. The Congress high command in New Delhi, according to the source, is aligned with the state leadership on this position.
The Milan Pradhan Arrest and Congress Strategy
The Congress has simultaneously decided to spotlight the arrest of Milan Pradhan, its candidate for the forthcoming Nandigram bypoll, who was detained by the West Bengal Police on Friday in connection with an old murder case. The party intends to frame the arrest as a politically motivated act by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned administration and escalate the issue to the national level.
'Our aim right now is to establish Congress as the most formidable challenger for the BJP in West Bengal,' the senior state leader said. A Supreme Court senior advocate and senior party leader is reportedly set to represent Pradhan in court. The party plans to pursue both a legal and political campaign simultaneously over the arrest.
Details of the Cases Against Pradhan
Milan Pradhan was arrested on Friday in connection with an old murder case and was set to be produced before a court on Saturday, where the public prosecutor was expected to seek police custody. Pradhan faces four cases related to rioting, murder, and criminal intimidation, all registered in 2007 in connection with the anti-land acquisition movement during the Left Front government led by the late Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Political Context and What It Means
The Congress position reflects a broader recalibration of opposition dynamics in West Bengal ahead of the Nandigram bypoll. By distancing itself from TMC while attacking the BJP, the party is attempting to carve out a third-force identity in a state that has historically been a two-party contest. Notably, the party's willingness to back TMC on the ECI symbol row — a procedural, not electoral, matter — does not, in their framing, translate into any political accommodation on the ground. The outcome of Pradhan's court hearing and the party's national amplification effort will be key markers of whether Congress can convert the arrest narrative into tangible electoral momentum.
Point of View
But not so weakened that BJP consolidates. The Milan Pradhan arrest gives Congress a genuine grievance to amplify nationally, but the real test is whether it can convert protest politics into vote share in a state where it has been marginalised for over a decade. A Supreme Court battle and national amplification are the right instincts; the question is whether the party's organisational base in West Bengal is strong enough to back them up.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Congress refusing an alliance with Trinamool Congress in West Bengal?
Congress has cited years of alleged attempts by TMC to break its party organisation in West Bengal between 2011 and 2016, as well as reported harassment of its grassroots workers during the previous TMC government. Both the national high command and the state leadership are aligned on rejecting any electoral understanding with any TMC faction.
Why did Congress back the Mamata Banerjee faction in the Election Commission symbol row?
Congress extended support to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress faction over the ECI's decision to freeze the party's original name and symbol, treating it as a procedural democratic concern. However, the party has clarified that this support does not imply any electoral alliance or political accommodation on the ground.
Who is Milan Pradhan and why was he arrested?
Milan Pradhan is the Congress candidate for the forthcoming Nandigram bypoll. He was arrested by West Bengal Police on Friday in connection with an old murder case, with four charges — rioting, murder, and criminal intimidation — registered against him in 2007 during the anti-land acquisition movement under the Left Front government.
How does Congress plan to respond to Milan Pradhan's arrest?
Congress intends to fight the arrest on two fronts: a legal battle with a senior Supreme Court advocate reportedly set to represent Pradhan, and a political campaign framing the arrest as a BJP-driven action at both the state and national level.
What is Congress's broader strategy in West Bengal?
The party's stated aim is to establish itself as the principal challenger to the BJP in West Bengal, distancing itself from TMC while using the Pradhan arrest controversy to build national momentum. The Nandigram bypoll is being treated as a key early test of this repositioning.
