'Trinamool to go solo in 2026 Bengal election': Mamata Banerjee blames AAP, Congress for BJP wins in Delhi, Haryana

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Trinamool Congress would go solo in the 2026 assembly elections in the state, dismissing any possibility of forging a coalition with the Congress or any other party, according to reports.

Addressing her party's lawmakers at a meeting ahead of the Assembly's budget session, the Trinamool chief  also expressed confidence about winning the elections next year with a two-third majority.

“The Congress did not help the AAP in Delhi. In Haryana, the AAP did not help the Congress. So, the BJP has won in both states. Everyone should be together. But the Congress has nothing in Bengal. I will fight alone. We alone are enough," a source quoted Banerjee as telling her party's MLAs.

She asserted that the party would form the government in the state for the fourth time in a row after winning more than two-third of the total seats.

According to a party source, Banerjee said at the closed-door meeting that 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 said.

The Trinamool chief also asked party MLAs to be alert as the BJP might try to include names of foreigners in the voter list to win the election.

A source said Banerjee informed the meeting that she would reshuffle the party's units from state-level to the booth level, and various wings.

To select new office-bearers, she asked the MLAs to suggest three names for each post to senior leader Arup Biswas by February 25.

The Trinamool chief also described the arrest of former food minister Jyotipriyo Mallick in the ration scam as "unfair", claiming that there is no evidence against him.

Speaking to News18 about the CM' s decision, Trinamool minister Shobhondev Chatterjee said Banerjee is the only leader who can fight PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah without any nervousness. "There was no alliance with Congress in the last election too and it’s ultimately her call who she wants to align with," he said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari called her “clever". “She wants to keep Congress and Left on opposite ends to cut Hindu votes. You should ask Congress why Banerjee said TMC will go alone," Adhikari told News18.