HAVING REJECTED the INDIA bloc before the Lok Sabha polls, as well as any seat-sharing adjustment with the Left Front and Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her party would provide "outside support" to the Opposition alliance in case it manages to form a government at the Centre. This moderation of stance by the West Bengal Chief Minister coincides with the Opposition's claims that the BJP will stop short of a majority, given polling in four of the seven phases over so far. Addressing a public meeting at Chinsurah in Hooghly district, Mamata said, "We will provide leadership to the INDIA alliance, and help them in every way, from the outside. We will help form the government so that in Bengal, our mothers, sisters and those who work in the 100-days job scheme, don't face problems." However, her message came with a rider — the INDIA must not include leaders from the Bengal CPI(M) and Bengal Congress as, according to her, they are “helping” the BJP. "The Bengal Congress and CPI(M) must not be counted in INDIA. They are not with us, as these two are with the BJP. Today, I am talking about Delhi," said Mamata. It was a significant move mid-campaign, in which the TMC chief has been aggressive against all the three parties in Bengal. According to party insiders, the announcement of “outside support to the INDIA bloc” was with an eye on the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. "Even if she is a part of the INDIA bloc, she wants to send out the message that she would remain at a distance. At the same time, she does not want to oppose the alliance as it would hurt her anti-BJP stance," a leader said. Mamata's comments also came against the backdrop of the BJP accusing her of “wishing a majboor (weak) Central government, while the people wanted a mazboot (stable) government”. By promising support to the INDIA bloc, she wants to convey that an Opposition alliance government would not necessarily be "weak", sources said. Perennially in the cross-hairs of the TMC supremo, the West Bengal Congress criticised Mamata for her “U-turn on INDIA”. State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "She is an opportunist and changes her stance whenever she sees an opportunity. The TMC has realised that it has no future in Bengal. The party will crumble after the Lok Sabha polls. Its leaders will leave the party and join the alliance. Therefore, she is trying to keep her options open." Bengal CPI(M) leaders too slammed Mamata. Senior party leader and Dum Dum candidate Sujan Chakraborty said it showed the TMC chief's “double standards”. "She wants to keep both doors open. On the one hand, she is assuring INDIA bloc parties of her support. On the other hand, she is messaging PM Modi that she will only provide 'outside support'. This is a balancing act. She will take whichever side suits her interests," said Chakraborty. The BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, said: "The TMC are in no position to play a decisive role in formation of any government at the Centre. They are living in a fool's paradise. I appeal to voters not to waste their votes by supporting the TMC. The BJP will come to power again with full majority.”
