Key Facts
Trinamool Congress (TMC) national joint secretary Derek O'Brien on Saturday dismissed speculation about the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) merging with any other political party, terming such reports 'fake news'. The denial comes amid ongoing rumors of a possible merger with the Congress, following a series of high-level meetings between the two parties in New Delhi.
Details of the Denial
In a statement to PTI, O'Brien said, 'Let me put an end to this fake news about the AITC merging with any other party. Baseless. Yes, that's the perfect word used by my friend KC Venugopal.' The remarks were aimed at quelling speculation that has been circulating since the TMC's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly polls.
Meetings That Sparked Speculation
Rumors of a merger gained traction after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, a day after the INDIA bloc meeting in the national capital. The Congress released a photograph of the two leaders greeting each other warmly at the opposition alliance meeting. A day later, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Sources said the meetings were part of ongoing engagement between the Congress and the TMC following discussions at the INDIA bloc meeting.
Impact and Reactions
Both the Congress and the TMC have dismissed merger speculation, insisting that their recent interactions were aimed at strengthening opposition coordination. The denial comes as the TMC grapples with an internal crisis following its electoral defeat in West Bengal. The BJP, meanwhile, has been watching the developments closely.
What Readers Should Know
- Derek O'Brien categorically denied any merger plans between TMC and any party.
- The meetings between Mamata-Sonia and Abhishek-Rahul were about opposition unity, not merger.
- Both parties have called the merger reports 'baseless'.
FAQ
Did Derek O'Brien confirm a merger between TMC and Congress?
No, Derek O'Brien dismissed merger reports as 'fake news' and 'baseless'.
Why were there rumors of a TMC-Congress merger?
Speculation arose after Mamata Banerjee met Sonia Gandhi and Abhishek Banerjee met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
What did the TMC and Congress say about their meetings?
Both parties said the meetings were aimed at strengthening opposition unity within the INDIA bloc, not a merger.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com