Could the NCP (SP) and TMC Return to the Congress Fold?
Speculation suggests the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) may reunite with the Indian National Congress (INC) amid political decline, while the TMC faces internal rebellions and electoral defeats. The BJP’s rise has squeezed regional parties like NCP and TMC, pushing them toward potential alliances with their former parent party for survival.
Speculation is growing that the Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) could merge with the Indian National Congress (INC) as both parties face severe political challenges. The NCP split in 2023, while the TMC has seen internal rebellions, including 20 MPs breaking away and over 58 rebel MLAs installing their own Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal’s Assembly. Both parties originated from the Congress—Sharad Pawar left in 1999 over Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origins, and Mamata Banerjee departed in 1998, citing inadequate representation of West Bengal’s interests. Historically, Pawar led Maharashtra’s governing alliance from 1999 to 2014, and Banerjee ruled West Bengal from 2011 to 2026 after defeating the Left Front. The BJP’s rise has narrowed political space for regional parties, pushing NCP and TMC toward potential reunification with the Congress. The NCP has been a Congress ally since 1999, while the TMC has fluctuated between alliances and independence. Ajit Pawar’s death in a 2023 plane crash temporarily stalled merger discussions among NCP MPs. The TMC suffered a devastating defeat in West Bengal’s recent Assembly elections, accelerating internal fractures. Meanwhile, the DMK in Tamil Nadu also faced electoral setbacks, though it remains more stable than the TMC. With regional parties declining, a merger with the Congress could be a strategic move for survival.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.