Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Sonia Gandhi, warmly welcomed the passionate address delivered by Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a high-level meeting of India’s opposition ‘INDIA’ bloc. Speaking at a joint press briefing following the meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday (September 30, 2026), Banerjee issued a strong call to intensify opposition movements across the country.
During her address, Mamata Banerjee asserted:
“We will fight, and we will win. Democracy will be restored, and we will defend the Constitution. Even if our lives are at stake, we stand prepared.”
As Banerjee spoke, Sonia Gandhi expressed her endorsement by smiling and tapping the table, later placing a reassuring hand on Banerjee’s back after the speech concluded. The moment was shared publicly via the Indian National Congress’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
Strategic Agenda and Leadership Presence
The high-profile strategy session in New Delhi was convened to address joint opposition concerns regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the overall functioning of the Election Commission of India.
Key Attendees: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, alongside other senior alliance figures.
In contrast to the solidarity on display in New Delhi, former West Bengal Congress Chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury launched a sharp critique regarding Banerjee’s active participation in the meeting:
Questioning Rahul Gandhi’s Leadership Acceptance: Chowdhury questioned whether this renewed alignment with the Congress signaled Mamata Banerjee’s readiness to accept Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi as the undisputed face of the opposition coalition ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Allegations Against TMC: He argued that had Banerjee unconditionally backed Rahul Gandhi’s leadership at the inception of the ‘INDIA’ bloc, the country’s political landscape would be vastly different today. Furthermore, he accused the Trinamool Congress of systematically undermining the Congress party’s ground presence in West Bengal.
Neither Mamata Banerjee nor the Trinamool Congress issued an immediate official reaction to Chowdhury’s remarks.
