00:00Thank you very much.
00:30Is that on the cards?
00:32Is Mahmata Banerjee, who remember had her share of rivals in the Congress party in the Bengal unit,
00:37there were always questions whether there should have been alliance or not between TMC and Congress
00:42for state assembly elections or Lok Sabha polls.
00:44But with this visual that has come in and that she's met Sonia Gandhi,
00:48is Mahmata Banerjee going to seek out a more united front?
00:51Is she going to reach out to the Congress party, to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and say that my party
00:56is breaking?
00:57I need support, I need understanding, I need strategy and I need support from the Congress party.
01:05I bring in Rahul Gautam here. Rahul, she's here for the opposition meeting,
01:09but how should one see Mahmata Sonia Gandhi meeting,
01:12especially in the backdrop of the fact that TMC is literally breaking apart?
01:16Well, it's a crucial meeting given the fact that Mahmata Banerjee, as she speaks,
01:21we all know that the CID team is there at her residence,
01:25and currently she's meeting Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpas.
01:30Obviously, as per our sources, the TMC is seeking support, moral support, political support from the Congress party,
01:40which is the principal opposition party, given the fact that they are alleging that an onslaught is happening against TMC.
01:47And therefore, they would want Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi,
01:51one of the tallest opposition leaders to stand with TMC and raise these issues on various forums.
01:58Also, if you remember, you know, there is speculation and there are reports coming in
02:03that around 20 MPs have gone rebel of TMC.
02:07Obviously, they would ask Rahul Gandhi, who is also leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha,
02:12to discuss these matters with the Speaker of the House,
02:15and obviously to create a pressure so that, you know, this split, which is coming to the fore, should not
02:22happen.
02:23So clearly there are many things on the agenda,
02:25but one thing is extremely crucial that the political messaging which is happening,
02:29which is quite important here, that Mamata Banerjee is now in good humor with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi,
02:37because earlier we have seen, before 2024, she has been, you know, very skeptical about the future of India Alliance.
02:44But now it seems that she's here to cement that alliance.
02:48Time's call for desperate measures.
02:50That perhaps is what is happening.
02:52Rahul, thank you for now.
02:53Now, in fact, I want to take another perspective on that.
02:56I'm joined by India Today's Managing Editor, Preeti Chaudhary.
02:58Preeti, this visual is very interesting.
03:00Mamata Banerjee reaching out to Sonia Gandhi.
03:02So, how should one view it?
03:04Do you think it's in the backdrop of her party breaking up?
03:06Well, you know, Mamata Banerjee has always enjoyed a very good relationship with Sonia Gandhi.
03:10Not so much with Rahul Gandhi.
03:11But for Sonia Gandhi has always enjoyed a very good relationship.
03:15And I would think this is also at a time like this meeting Sonia Gandhi.
03:19Yesterday, if you remember, Pooja, the kind of visuals that came out of the meeting with both Sonia Gandhi and
03:23Mamata Banerjee embracing each other.
03:25When Sonia Gandhi was ill, it was a time where it was fairly acrimonious between Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee.
03:32But Mamata Banerjee had reached out to Sonia Gandhi.
03:35So, that relationship stands.
03:37But it also comes at a time where there is enough talk on the sidelines that could there be a
03:43possible merger of the Mamata Banerjee camp with the Congress.
03:46Certain leaders within the India Alliance are actually advising and propagating Mamata Banerjee.
03:52Mamata Banerjee that may be right now.
03:54It would be in the best interest of Mamata Banerjee coming back to the Congress.
03:58She started off from the Congress and merged with the Congress.
04:00But there are also a lot of political compulsions of the Congress in this as well.
04:05Because the Congress has…
04:07Especially the Bengal Congress unit.
04:08Exactly.
04:08They wouldn't want it.
04:09Exactly.
04:09We remember Bengal Congress leaders have always been against any merger.
04:12Exactly.
04:13So, the Bengal Congress unit would definitely put their foot down.
04:16And the Congress has always fought a very pitched battle with the TMC in West Bengal.
04:22See how the entire campaign had gone on this time.
04:24Correct.
04:25So, where you had Rahul Gandhi who himself had called the Mamata Banerjee government corrupt in West Bengal.
04:30So, for them to come in there, how will it go down?
04:33Especially with the likes of an Adirajan Chaudhary and certain leaders who have run a full political, you know, for
04:40decades now, a campaign against the TMC.
04:43So, that's not going to go down well with the Congress cadre.
04:45But I would say this speaks highly of Sonia Gandhi, don't you think?
04:49The manner in which she's been able to keep her bridges with leaders of opposition.
04:53Well, you are right there.
04:54And I think, you know, and it's not just Sonia Gandhi.
04:57She has that kind of relationship with other leaders as well.
04:59Even where things were acrimonious at times, like a Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, you know.
05:05So, she's always has been somebody who will come in and bridge the last minute gap.
05:10And she's been able to do so even at a time when Rahul Gandhi was at the helm of affairs
05:14or even at a time where she has taken the back seat and, you know, she's called upon when push
05:21comes to shove.
05:22Only she hasn't become the opposition face as much, but possibly this time.
05:26Appreciate you joining us.
05:27It's Preethi Chaudhary telling us what possibly are the challenges for the Congress, but also what's working for both Congress
05:33and TMC.
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