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Mamata Banerjee said the opposition alliance would “fight and win”, while asserting that democracy would return and the Constitution would be protected.
A smiling Sonia Gandhi was seen thumping the desk as Banerjee delivered her remarks. (Photo: AICC)
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s fiery speech at the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday drew applause from Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Addressing a joint press conference, Banerjee said the opposition alliance would “fight and win”, while asserting that democracy would return and the Constitution would be protected.
“But we will fight, we will win. Democracy will return, democracy will come, the Constitution will be protected. Agar liye hamari life bhi khatre mein hai, toh bhi we are ready to do it. (We will fight and win. Democracy will return, and we will protect the Constitution. Even if our lives are put at risk for this, we are ready to do it),” she said.
A smiling Sonia Gandhi was seen thumping the desk as Banerjee delivered her remarks. At the end of the speech, Sonia Gandhi also patted Banerjee on the back. Congress also shared the video of the moment from its X handle.
The INDIA bloc leaders met in New Delhi to chalk out a joint strategy on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and opposition concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission. The meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Banerjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, among others.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury took a sharp dig at Mamata Banerjee over her participation at the INDIA bloc meeting, questioning whether her renewed engagement with the grand old party also meant she was now willing to accept Rahul Gandhi’s leadership of the opposition ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
At A Glance
Mamata Banerjee delivered a speech at the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi.
Sonia Gandhi applauded Mamata Banerjee’s remarks at the meeting.
The INDIA bloc leaders met to discuss the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and Election Commission concerns.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned Mamata Banerjee’s renewed engagement with the Congress.
Chowdhury suggested Mamata Banerjee’s participation was due to losses in West Bengal.
Chowdhury, a former West Bengal Congress president and a vocal critic of the ex-CM, said opposition parties should recognise the Lok Sabha LoP as the face of their political fight, while questioning Banerjee’s earlier reservations about Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.
“Didi had to go to Delhi, you all know the reason… It’s because she has lost in West Bengal,” Chowdhury said.
“Many so-called leaders had earlier opposed Rahul Gandhi’s leadership of the opposition bloc. But the reality is that only Rahul Gandhi can lead the alliance and he should be at the forefront,” he said.
Had Banerjee supported Gandhi’s leadership when the INDIA bloc held its initial meetings, “the situation in the country today might have been different”, Chowdhury said.
“As Mamata Banerjee has lost elections in West Bengal and her party has split, she wants an alliance with the Congress, after trying to wipe out our party in the last 15 years. All these years, TMC did everything to undermine the INDIA bloc and the Congress,” he added.
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Ask News18The INDIA bloc leaders gathered in New Delhi to formulate a joint strategy regarding the special intensive revision of electoral rolls and to address opposition concerns over the Election Commission’s functioning.
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Saurabh Verma is a Deputy News Editor at News18.com, specialising in Indian politics and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking election strategies, he decodes domestic issues for mil…Read More
September 30, 2026, 8:20 PM IST
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