"Simply join Congress directly": Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urges Mamata Banerjee to merge TMC
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has invited TMC chief Mamata Banerjee to merge her party with Congress and rejoin its ranks.
In a move that could fundamentally alter the political landscape of West Bengal, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has issued a direct invitation to Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to merge her party with the Congress and rejoin its ranks.
Speaking in Murshidabad on Thursday, the former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) chief suggested that instead of engaging in complex political maneuvers, Banerjee should consolidate her remaining lawmakers under the Congress umbrella. In a surprising twist, Chowdhury even offered to accept her leadership within the state unit if she chooses to make the move.
A Proposal to Close a 28-Year Circle
The proposal carries immense historical significance. Mamata Banerjee famously broke away from the Congress in 1998 to establish the Trinamool Congress. Chowdhury’s pitch essentially asks her to complete a full circle nearly three decades later by returning to the parent organization.
"I would like to offer a suggestion to Mamata Banerjee, and also urge our High Command, that she should simply join the Congress party directly," Chowdhury stated. "Instead of engaging in other manoeuvres, why not bring all her remaining MPs and MLAs and merge into the Congress? If she joins the Congress and becomes a leader within the party, we would be willing to fight alongside her, following her lead."
This unexpected olive branch comes at a time of significant upheaval for the TMC, following the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls which saw a major reshuffle in the party's legislative and parliamentary ranks.
Banerjee Alleges EVM Hacking and Election Malpractice
The Congress leader's remarks follow a series of explosive allegations made by Mamata Banerjee regarding the recent elections in West Bengal. Addressing a press conference alongside party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC chief claimed that "EVMs were hacked" during the polls, which resulted in a victory for the BJP.
Banerjee painted a picture of systemic interference, alleging that the counting process was manipulated after the initial rounds. Her accusations included:
- EVM Manipulation: Claims that electronic voting machines were hacked to alter results.
- Physical Obstruction: Allegations that CRPF personnel blocked access and that party agents were assaulted.
- Surveillance Tampering: Claims that CCTV cameras were blocked or locked to hide irregularities.
- Counting Interference: Allegations that control over the counting process was effectively seized after the second or third round.
"We were leading by 53,000 votes. We were beaten up... They blocked the CCTV cameras. Where is the CCTV footage? We want the CCTV footage from every constituency to remain intact," Banerjee said, adding that a "storm is coming" and the people will provide a fitting reply.
Attacks on the Election Commission
Banerjee also directed sharp criticism toward the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of working to deprive citizens of their fundamental voting rights. She expressed frustration over the lack of justice received when approaching the courts and the Election Commission, claiming the commission treated victims with disrespect.
Furthermore, she criticized the statutory protections afforded to the Chief Election Commissioner and alleged that the current electoral processes are designed to benefit the BJP. Banerjee also referenced a June incident in Kolkata's Alipore area where a fire reportedly destroyed EVMs, an event currently under investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Kolkata Police.