The campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has provided a meeting ground for the INDIA bloc parties, especially the Congress and Trinamool Congress, the only two allies under the bloc who did not have an electoral understanding during the 2024 General Election.
The relationship between the Congress and the Trinamool rapidly declined from December 2023, after the two sides failed to work out a seat-sharing arrangement. The Trinamool’s offer of two seats wasn’t acceptable to the Congress West Bengal unit, then headed by former Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Mr. Chowdhury tirades against the Trinamool leadership, especially Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, worsened the situation. The Trinamool, while remaining in the larger INDIA bloc, has often taken an independent stance standing at a remove from the bloc.
New bonhomie
At a dinner on Thursday hosted by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for INDIA bloc leaders, the two sides seemed to have turned a page. According to sources, before sitting down for dinner, the Trinamool’s national general secretary and newly appointed Parliamentary leader in the Lok Sabha Abhishek Banerjee spent nearly 20 minutes chatting with Mr. Gandhi.
