Fresh discussions between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have sparked political speculation about the future of their relationship within the INDIA bloc. The buzz gained momentum after Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for nearly one and a half hours in New Delhi on Wednesday.

According to sources, the Trinamool Congress conveyed during the meeting that it wants a strong alliance within the opposition camp and accepts Rahul Gandhi’s leadership in the INDIA bloc. Sources also said that the Congress has made it clear that it is not pushing for any merger with the Trinamool Congress. The party's position is that if such a proposal is ever considered, it must come from the Trinamool side.

The meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee took place at 10 Janpath, a key political address in the national capital. It came just a day after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the same location.

The interaction between Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi attracted considerable attention. Photographs showing the two leaders embracing each other were widely shared on social media. The Trinamool Congress later posted the images on X and described them as a reflection of a long-standing relationship between the two leaders. Their latest meeting followed another public embrace during the INDIA bloc meeting held in Delhi earlier this week.

Sources said the Rahul Gandhi-Abhishek Banerjee meeting was part of ongoing communication between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress after the recent INDIA bloc gathering. Opposition leaders at the meeting had stressed the need for stronger coordination and greater unity among parties to take on the BJP more effectively.

The Congress and the Trinamool Congress share a long political history. Mamata Banerjee founded the Trinamool Congress in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress. Despite their differences, the two parties later joined hands to challenge the Left Front government in West Bengal. Their alliance played a major role in ending the Left Front's long rule in the state in 2011.

However, the partnership did not last long. The alliance collapsed the following year and both parties pursued separate political paths. Despite that, they once again came together as members of the INDIA bloc ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Recent meetings between senior leaders of both parties have revived discussions about whether they could move closer politically in the future.

Speculation intensified after Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Sonia Gandhi. Political observers viewed the meeting as a sign of warming ties between the two parties. The absence of Rahul Gandhi from that meeting also became a subject of discussion. However, Wednesday’s meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee appeared to signal continued engagement between the two sides.

These developments come at a challenging time for the Trinamool Congress. The party is dealing with internal unrest following its defeat in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections. Several leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the party's direction. A section of MLAs and later several MPs have distanced themselves from the Trinamool Congress. Some of them have indicated their willingness to align with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal mocked the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee. Taking a swipe at both leaders, she described the interaction as "one yuvraj (prince) meeting another".

Questioning the political understanding between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, Tibrewal said, "Where is their self-esteem? Just for power, they can do anything, hug anyone, be friends or de-friend anybody. I simply don't understand that. If it is raining, you look for an umbrella which can give you shelter. But Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, and the Congress, do not even have a roof over their heads. What kind of shelter are they going to provide?"

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress suffered another setback on Wednesday. Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev resigned from both the party and the Upper House of Parliament. Dev had joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021 after leaving the Congress.

Her resignation has triggered fresh political speculation. Shortly after stepping down, she met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Political observers believe she is likely to join the BJP in the coming days. Her departure adds to the challenges currently facing the Trinamool Congress as it navigates both internal dissent and growing political pressure.

While neither the Congress nor the Trinamool Congress has officially spoken about any merger, the recent series of meetings between their top leaders has generated significant interest in political circles. For now, both parties appear focused on strengthening opposition unity within the INDIA bloc, even as speculation about closer ties continues.