West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that the opposition INDIA bloc will continue its fight until the ruling party is defeated at the national level.
Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Banerjee also took a swipe at her former ally, the Congress, accusing it of being “overconfident” about its electoral prospects in West Bengal, a state where the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been dominant for over a decade.
INDIA bloc vs BJP
Banerjee reiterated her commitment to the opposition alliance, stating that the INDIA bloc remains united in its goal to oust the BJP from power.
“We will continue to fight against the BJP until they are completely defeated. The INDIA bloc is strong, and we will work together to take on the NDA,” she said.
With the 2029 Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, Banerjee urged opposition parties to “set aside political differences” and focus on a collective strategy to counter the BJP’s electoral machinery.
Swipe at Congress over West Bengal
Despite her call for opposition unity, Banerjee did not hold back from criticizing the Congress, particularly its state leadership in West Bengal. She dismissed the party’s claims of resurgence in the state, where it has struggled to regain its foothold after being relegated to a marginal player.
“They (Congress) are overconfident in West Bengal. But the reality on the ground is different. People here trust TMC to fight against the BJP,” Banerjee said.
Her remarks underscore the continuing friction between the two opposition allies in West Bengal, where they had briefly explored a pre-poll alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The talks collapsed, and both parties contested separately, with the TMC dominating the state by winning 32 of 42 seats.
Recent electoral successes
Banerjee’s combative stance comes in the wake of the TMC’s recent successes in both the Lok Sabha and state bye-elections. The party has emerged as one of the strongest regional players within the INDIA bloc, often positioning itself as a key pillar of the anti-BJP front outside Delhi.
Party insiders suggest that Banerjee is now looking to expand the TMC’s footprint beyond West Bengal, particularly by forging closer ties with regional parties in the south and north-east, while maintaining pressure on the Congress to cede space in states where the TMC is stronger.
