Abhijit Mukherjee Returns to Congress After Brief TMC Stint, Seen as ‘Ghar Wapsi’

Abhijit Mukherjee, son of former President Pranab Mukherjee, is set to rejoin the Congress after a brief association with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). His formal induction into the party will take place in Kolkata on Wednesday, in the presence of AICC in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir and other state leaders.

Confirming the development, West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar expressed optimism, stating, “This will strengthen the state unit. We welcome leaders who align with the ideology of Rahul Gandhi.”

Why is Abhijit Mukherjee Returning?
Several Congress leaders believe that Mukherjee felt sidelined in the TMC, prompting his decision to return. However, he has remained tight-lipped on the matter.

After Pranab Mukherjee’s passing in 2020, both his son and daughter quit the Congress within a year. Abhijit joined the TMC in July 2021, while his sister Sharmistha Mukherjee left politics altogether in September 2021. Unlike Abhijit, she has been openly critical of the Congress on various occasions.

Political Journey & Past Statements
A former Jangipur MP, Mukherjee lost the seat in 2019 to TMC candidate Khalilur Rahaman. Last year, he attributed his defeat to internal Congress politics, claiming he was gradually marginalized within the party. Speaking to ANI, he remarked, “I was given fewer assignments and sidelined by a particular person, a particular group… Then Mamata Didi called me, and I joined TMC.”

Meanwhile, Sharmistha Mukherjee has continued to voice her dissatisfaction with the Congress. In December last year, she criticized the party for not holding a Congress Working Committee (CWC) condolence meeting after their father’s demise, despite doing so for former PM Manmohan Singh.

A Political Homecoming for Congress
Mukherjee’s return to the Congress is being regarded as a "ghar wapsi" by senior leaders. A top AICC functionary commented, “Those who left Congress for regional parties are now realizing that only Congress can challenge BJP. His experience and political legacy will benefit our Bengal unit.”

With Congress focusing on rebuilding its presence in West Bengal, Abhijit Mukherjee’s rejoining marks a significant boost for the party’s revival efforts in the state.