West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made it loud and clear—her party, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), will contest the 2026 Assembly elections without any alliance. She ruled out any possibility of teaming up with Congress or any other party, setting the stage for a fierce political battle in Bengal.
“We Will Fight Alone. We Are Enough”
At a closed-door meeting with TMC lawmakers before the Assembly’s budget session, Mamata didn’t hold back. She pointed fingers at Congress, accusing it of failing to stand with opposition parties where it mattered.
“The Congress did not help AAP in Delhi. In Haryana, AAP did not help Congress. That’s why BJP won in both states. Everyone should be together, but Congress has nothing in Bengal. I will fight alone. We alone are enough,” she said.
Her message was clear: TMC does not need Congress to win Bengal. She believes her party will secure a fourth consecutive term in power, winning with a two-thirds majority.
Why Mamata is Snubbing Congress
Mamata Banerjee’s frustration with Congress is no secret. In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the INDIA bloc—a coalition of opposition parties—was supposed to take on BJP together. But internal conflicts and lack of unity have hurt the opposition. With Congress struggling nationally and weak in Bengal, Mamata seems to have decided that TMC stands a better chance on its own.
However, she also warned that dividing anti-BJP votes could be dangerous.
“Like-minded parties must have an understanding so that anti-BJP votes are not divided. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the INDIA bloc to stop BJP at the national level,” she reportedly said.
Mamata’s Strategy: Reshuffling Party Structure
Banerjee isn’t just talking politics—she’s preparing for battle. She announced a major reshuffle in TMC’s organizational structure—from state-level units to booth-level teams. She has asked party MLAs to submit three names for each party post by February 25 to senior leader Arup Biswas.
This move signals TMC’s readiness for elections and its plan to strengthen its ground-level presence.
Ration Scam Controversy: Mamata Defends Her Minister
At the meeting, Mamata also came to the defense of former food minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who has been arrested in connection with the ration scam. She called his arrest unfair and claimed that no evidence had been found against him.
This comes at a time when the BJP and central agencies have been targeting several opposition leaders, including TMC ministers, in corruption cases. Mamata sees this as a political vendetta, a tactic often used to corner opposition leaders ahead of elections.
BJP in Mamata’s Crosshairs
The Bengal CM also alleged that BJP might manipulate voter lists by including names of foreigners to tilt the elections in its favor. Though no official complaint has been filed, this sets the tone for another politically charged election in Bengal.
What This Means for 2026 Elections
With TMC going solo, Bengal’s 2026 election is set to be a high-stakes battle. Congress and CPI(M), who were once Bengal’s dominant forces, are now struggling for relevance. Meanwhile, BJP is pushing hard to make inroads in the state.
Mamata’s confidence is unshaken, but with opposition votes likely to be split, the BJP might see this as an opportunity to gain ground.
Will Mamata prove her strength once again, or will her decision to fight alone create an opening for the BJP?
👉 What do you think? Is Mamata right in going solo, or will this help BJP in Bengal? Share your views in the comments!
