Mamata Banerjee Declares Trinamool's Solo Run in 2026 Bengal Elections
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Mamata Banerjee announced that the Trinamool Congress will contest the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections independently, dismissing any alliances with Congress. She emphasized the party's intent to secure a fourth consecutive term and criticized Congress for its poor performance in previous elections.
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress will contest the 2026 elections alone.
- Mamata Banerjee criticized Congress for lacking influence in West Bengal.
- Emphasis on securing a two-thirds majority in the upcoming elections.
- Concerns over embarrassing public statements by party members.
- Warning issued against factional infighting within the party.
Kolkata, Feb 10 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday that the Trinamool Congress will participate independently in the upcoming Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, without forming any alliances with other parties, including Congress.
During a meeting with party legislators in the West Bengal Assembly before the budget session began, she emphasized, "Congress has little presence in West Bengal. Therefore, an alliance with Congress is out of the question. Trinamool Congress is set to contest alone and we aim to secure our fourth consecutive term in 2026 with a two-thirds majority," as reported by a senior cabinet member.
The cabinet member also noted that the Chief Minister criticized Congress for its lack of support in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP won 48 out of 70 seats.
"In Delhi, Congress failed to aid the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Similarly, AAP did not support Congress in Haryana. This lack of cooperation allowed the BJP to prevail in both states. Had Congress and AAP joined forces, the outcomes would have been different for the opposition in these regions," the cabinet member quoted Mamata Banerjee.
Additionally, the Chief Minister advised some party legislators who had made public statements that embarrassed the party leadership.
The cabinet member revealed that the Chief Minister stressed that repeated mistakes cannot be overlooked. Recently, a controversial remark by legislator Madan Mitra about financial exchanges for party district committee memberships caused significant embarrassment for the leadership.
Even though Mitra has since issued an apology to state president Subrata Bakshi, the party leadership believes it is crucial to remind such members to be more cautious moving forward.
The Chief Minister also issued a strong warning regarding reported conflicts between factions within the party, particularly at the district level. "She specifically cautioned the party legislators from Malda and West Burdwan districts," a legislator present at the meeting stated.
