Pitted against each other in Bengal, partners in Kerala: TMC now Congress-led UDF's 'associate member'

Flags of TMC and Congress.

While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Congress are pitted against each other in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls, the two parties, will be on the same side in Kerala in an attempt to oust the LDF government.

Ahead of the Assembly polls, the Congress-led UDF in Kerala on Monday decided to expand its base by adding three more political parties, including the Trinamool Congress, to its fold. This move comes ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The Trinamool Congress, Janadhipathya Rashtriya Party, and Kerala Kamaraj Congress will now be associates of the UDF. This expansion aims to strengthen the opposition's fight against the current government's policies.

Speaking to reporters after a UDF meeting, leader of opposition in Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan, said the Trinamool Congress (Kerala unit), led by former MLA P V Anvar; the Janadhipathya Rashtriya Party (JRP), led by tribal leader C K Janu; and the Kerala Kamaraj Congress, led by Vishnupuram Chandrasekharan, will become associates of the UDF.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has set an ambitious goal of winning more than 215 of the total 294 seats in the state assembly in the 2026 polls, emphasising that the TMC would work to significantly reduce the BJP's tally and secure a fourth consecutive term in power. Setting the tone for the electoral battle, Banerjee on Sunday reiterated the need to surpass the 213 seats won by her party in 2021.

"I agree with Abhishek (TMC MP and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee) that we should aim for at least one more seat than our 2021 tally. Our goal should be to secure 215 seats or more while ensuring that BJP, CPIM, and Congress candidates struggle to retain their deposits," Banerjee asserted.

Responding to Mamata Banerjee's statement, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya claimed that she is afraid of losing the 2026 assembly polls and is saying such things to galvanize TMC workers. The BJP had secured 77 seats in the 2021 elections.