Major crisis in W Bengal: Will TMC merge with Congress? Sonia Gandhi makes this ‘super offer’ to Mamata Banerjee
New Delhi: Following a crushing defeat in the West Bengal elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is grappling with its biggest political crisis. While rebellions by MLAs and MPs within the party have compounded Mamata Banerjee's troubles, the Congress—the country's oldest political party—has offered a lifeline to 'Didi'. Sources report that Congress's top leader, Sonia Gandhi, personally called Mamata Banerjee to propose a major and historic merger of the TMC with the Congress.
What does the offer entail? National Vice President role for Didi and General Secretary post for Abhishek.
According to party insiders, Sonia Gandhi has proposed a dignified arrangement to Mamata Banerjee. Under this offer:
Mamata Banerjee: She could be appointed as the National Vice President of the Congress.
Abhishek Banerjee: Mamata's nephew and MP, Abhishek Banerjee, could be given the key post of National General Secretary within the Congress.
'BJP will do to you what it did to AAP' — Sonia Gandhi's advice to Mamata
It is reported that during this phone call, Sonia Gandhi warned Mamata Banerjee that unity is the only way to withstand the aggressive onslaught of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to sources, Sonia said, “If the TMC remains separate, the BJP will harass them too—just as they did to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)—using central agencies. Furthermore, members of your own party are now turning against Abhishek Banerjee; in such a scenario, a merger is the safest path forward.”
Reportedly, Mamata Banerjee has asked Sonia Gandhi for a few days to consider this highly sensitive and major decision.
TMC grappling with rebellion on all fronts
This entire development comes at a time when Mamata Banerjee’s own stronghold appears to be crumbling. Following the defeat in the Bengal elections, the TMC has witnessed an unprecedented rebellion:
Defection of MLAs: Out of Mamata Banerjee’s 80 MLAs, 58 have formed a separate faction.
Rebellion by MPs: In Delhi, too, around 20 TMC MPs have adopted a rebellious stance.
This fragmentation of the party, combined with complaints being filed by the BJP against Abhishek Banerjee, has put Mamata Banerjee on the back foot.
Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee’s ‘secret’ 90-minute meeting
Amidst this political turmoil, another crucial meeting took place on June 10 at 10 Janpath in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee held a closed-door discussion lasting nearly an hour and a half. Sources indicate that the meeting was highly positive and productive, involving serious deliberations on the current political situation in Bengal and the future of the TMC.