Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Urges Mamata Banerjee to Rejoin Congress, Offers Leadership in Bengal

In a significant political development, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on [date] publicly urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to rejoin the Congress party, asserting that the party is ready to accept her leadership in the state. The appeal, made during a press interaction in [location], comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is reportedly battling its deepest organizational crisis since its formation in 1998. Chowdhury's invitation signals a potential realignment of opposition forces in West Bengal.

Chowdhury, a former West Bengal Congress president and a vocal critic of the TMC, emphasized that the Congress would welcome Banerjee with open arms and would be willing to let her lead the party in the state. He cited the need for a united opposition to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in upcoming elections. The TMC has recently faced internal dissent, electoral setbacks, and a series of high-profile defections, prompting speculation about its stability. Banerjee, however, has not yet responded to the offer.

The development is likely to have far-reaching implications for West Bengal's political dynamics and the broader opposition alliance ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. While some Congress leaders view this as a strategic move to consolidate anti-BJP votes, others within the party are skeptical, given the long-standing rivalry between the Congress and the TMC. Political analysts suggest that Banerjee's response will be crucial in determining whether this overture leads to a formal alliance or remains a symbolic gesture. The BJP, meanwhile, has dismissed the offer as a sign of desperation within the opposition camp.