‘Without Mamata di, the alliance will be gone’: Mani Shankar Aiyar on INDIA Bloc's future

Kolkata: Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday sparked political debate by asserting that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is central to the survival of the Opposition INDIA bloc, while also expressing uncertainty about his own position within the Congress party.

Speaking to IANS, Aiyar said the INDIA alliance would lose relevance without Mamata Banerjee’s leadership.

“Without Mamata di, the 'I', 'N', 'D', 'I', 'A' of the INDIA alliance all will be gone. Because Mamata Banerjee is the leader of this alliance,” Aiyar said.

He added that prominent regional leaders, including DMK president M K Stalin, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, could also play a leading role in shaping the Opposition coalition.

In a pointed remark, Aiyar suggested that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should allow leaders of smaller regional parties to guide the INDIA bloc instead of seeking to occupy the top position.

The senior Congress leader also hinted at strained ties with his own party. Referring to remarks by Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, Aiyar claimed they suggested possible disciplinary action against him.

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“I consider myself to be in Congress, but it seems they may have decided to expel me. However, I have not received any formal letter,” he said, adding that reports of his expulsion had not been officially communicated.

“If you want the Congress's view, ask a Congressman,” Aiyar remarked, while maintaining that several party members support Mamata Banerjee’s role in the Opposition alliance.

Recalling his earlier political association with Mamata Banerjee, Aiyar said he briefly joined the Trinamool Congress in 1997 and served as its first National Secretary before resigning within weeks, concluding that the party was deeply rooted in Bengali identity.

Marking International Mother Language Day, Aiyar also underscored the significance of linguistic identity, referring to the Bengali language movement in Dhaka led by Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

His remarks come at a time when the Opposition INDIA bloc is attempting to consolidate its strategy against the BJP ahead of upcoming state elections and the 2026 political calendar.

IANS