TMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Holds Talks with Akhilesh Yadav in Delhi and Uddhav Thackrey in Mumbai

Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday met with leaders from the Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena UBT. Banerjee met with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Delhi, and then flew down to Mumbai and met Shive Sena UBT chief Uddav Thackrey. Abhishek Banerjee's packed schedule, including meetings with key regional leaders, fuels speculation about the formation of a formidable opposition front.

With TMC securing 29 Lok Sabha seats, it emerged as the third-largest party within the INDIA bloc. In a flurry of activities, Abhishek Banerjee met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Delhi, followed by discussions with AAP leaders in the morning. Later, accompanied by Derek O'Brien, he visited Mumbai to confer with Shiv Sena-UBT leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray.

Abhishek Banerjee's meeting with Akhilesh Yadav indicated a shared vision for the future, while his interaction with Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai lasted approximately 90 minutes. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien refrained from divulging details of the meeting but stated the rejection of the Modi government by the people as a pivotal point to move forward. TMC's independent electoral stance within the INDIA bloc distinguishes it from other parties, which had engaged in seat-sharing agreements.

Following the declaration of the results of the all important 2024 Lok Sabha elections on June 4, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge affirmed the INDIA bloc's commitment to heed the public's desire to oppose the BJP rule, signaling potential collaborative efforts against the ruling government. The NDA Alliance with 290 seats in their arsenal is all set to form the government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm. The INDIA Bloc has decided to remain in the Opposition with 232 seats in their kitty, and act when the time is right.​