TMC Leader Claims Support of 64 MLAs, Denies Merger with Congress
Ritabrata Banerjee, the opposition leader in the West Bengal Assembly, has announced that his faction has the backing of 64 MLAs, firmly rejecting any plans for a merger with Congress. He emphasized the independence of his group and questioned the validity of merger rumors, particularly in light of recent speculations involving senior Congress leaders. Banerjee's statements come as the TMC seeks to maintain unity within the opposition against the BJP, despite ongoing political dynamics. This article delves into the current political landscape in West Bengal and the implications of Banerjee's claims.
| Jun 10, 2026, 19:28 IST
Opposition Leader's Assertion in West Bengal Assembly
On Wednesday, June 10, Ritabrata Banerjee, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and a member of the TMC, asserted that his faction has garnered support from 64 MLAs. He emphasized that there are no plans for a merger with Congress. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee confirmed the current count of 64 legislators, stating that they would be submitting a letter to the Speaker. Previously, on June 3, the Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose recognized Banerjee as the opposition leader after he was expelled from the party. He had the backing of 58 out of 80 TMC MLAs, surpassing the two-thirds majority required for recognition as a separate legislative group, marking the formal inception of a distinct faction within the West Bengal Assembly.
Clarification on Potential Merger with Congress
Ritabrata Banerjee on TMC and Congress Merger
Banerjee reiterated that his faction would continue to operate independently amid speculation regarding a possible merger with Congress. He stated, 'There is no merger of TMC with Congress. We have the support of 64 MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly.' Clarifying further, he mentioned, 'As far as our legislative party is concerned, we are certainly not joining Congress. More than two-thirds of our MPs in Parliament are also not merging with Congress. So, who is merging with whom?'
Rejection of Merger Speculations
Further Comments on Party Dynamics
He added that based on the information he possesses, neither MPs, nor municipal representatives, nor district council members, nor panchayat members are leaving. Therefore, he questioned, 'Who is going?' The topic of merger is not even on the table. His comments came amidst reports suggesting that senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had advised TMC chief Mamata Banerjee to merge the Trinamool Congress with Congress. However, top sources within the TMC dismissed the merger rumors today, stating that the party has no such information. The TMC further clarified that there have been no discussions regarding a merger at any level. Instead, the focus has been on ensuring that the parties within the opposition alliance work together more effectively against the BJP while maintaining unity despite state-level differences.