Speculation over a possible re-merger between the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian National Congress intensified on Wednesday, 10 June, after TMC supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee returned to Kolkata from New Delhi alone — while her nephew and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee remained in the national capital. Mamata declined to speak to reporters waiting at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, hurriedly boarding her vehicle without uttering a word.

The Meetings That Sparked the Speculation

The re-merger buzz gained momentum following two high-profile one-to-one meetings in New Delhi. On Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. The following day, Abhishek Banerjee held a separate one-to-one meeting with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The back-to-back parleys — coming at a politically charged moment — fuelled widespread conjecture about the two parties exploring a formal reunion.

History Behind the Split

Mamata Banerjee founded the Trinamool Congress on 1 January 1998, after breaking away from the Congress. Her stated reason at the time was that the Congress leadership was unwilling to mount an effective movement against the then CPI(M)-led Left Front government in West Bengal. A re-merger, if it materialises, would mark one of the most significant political realignments in Indian opposition politics in decades.

TMC's Rebel Bloc Rules Out Re-merger

Ritabrata Banerjee, leader of the majority bloc of the TMC Legislative Party in the West Bengal Assembly and the official Leader of the Opposition in the House, categorically rejected the re-merger possibility. 'Our bloc is the main Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly. We started with 58 legislators and today the number is 64. I heard that the majority of the 28 Lok Sabha members of the Trinamool Congress are also in the rebel bloc now. So, since we are the main Trinamool Congress, there is no question of our party remerging with the Congress,' Ritabrata said.

State Congress Sets Conditions

Even within the Congress, scepticism prevailed. West Bengal Congress President Suvankar Sarkar outlined two preconditions for any such reunion. 'First, anyone who is willing to come back to the Congress will have to accept Rahul Gandhi as his or her supreme leader. Secondly, if anyone thinks that he or she will use the Congress as a shield against legal complications because of his or her past acts of corruption, that will not be acceptable,' Sarkar said. The conditions signal that any merger, if seriously pursued, would not be unconditional — and could face significant internal resistance on both sides.

What Happens Next

With Abhishek Banerjee still in New Delhi and no official statement from either the TMC or the Congress, the political uncertainty is likely to persist. Observers note that the silence from both camps — particularly Mamata's refusal to address reporters — is itself a signal that back-channel discussions may be ongoing. The coming days will be closely watched for any formal announcement or denial from the top leadership of either party.