TMC to Contest 2026 Bengal Elections Independently: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has announced that her party will contest the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections independently. During an internal meeting preceding the Budget Session of the Bengal assembly, Banerjee expressed confidence that the TMC would secure more than a two-thirds majority in the upcoming polls, dismissing any significant role for the Congress in the state.

Banerjee highlighted the lack of cooperation between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the recent Delhi and Haryana elections, reinforcing her decision to avoid alliances with the Congress in Bengal. This stance underscores the TMC's intention to maintain its distance from its INDIA bloc partner, with whom it shares a fluctuating relationship.

Despite the Congress's efforts to mend ties, including replacing Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury with the more TMC-friendly Subhankar Sarkar as the Bengal unit president, Banerjee has remained resolute in her approach. Within the INDIA bloc, the TMC's strategic distance from the Congress has become more pronounced, particularly following the latter's setbacks in Delhi.

TMC minister Shobhondev Chatterjee emphasized Banerjee's leadership prowess, stating that she is uniquely positioned to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He noted that Banerjee made the decision to forgo an alliance with Congress in the previous election as well, signaling it is ultimately her prerogative whom to partner with.

In contrast, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari labeled Banerjee's decision as "clever," suggesting it is a tactic to polarize the vote between the Congress and the Left. Adhikari questioned the Congress's stance in light of Banerjee's declaration to go it alone.