Political dynamics in West Bengal are shifting rapidly ahead of upcoming by-elections, marked by a flurry of simultaneous political developments. Among the most notable is a roughly 90-minute secret meeting between former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and DMK leader Kanimozhi. While various political interpretations are being drawn from this interaction, the possibility of forming a third front excluding Congress stands out as a major talking point. Although no formal announcement has been made by either camp, murmurs of an alternative alliance taking shape without Congress are growing louder.
Discontent with Congress is reportedly widespread, with the DMK, Mamata Banerjee, and Sharad Pawar all said to be unhappy with the party's approach. In this context, Kanimozhi appears to be actively working to unite powerful regional forces. It comes as little surprise that regional strongmen might forge a new coalition, sidelining Congress ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections.
The Closed-Door Meeting in Kolkata
DMK MP and senior leader Kanimozhi held a closed-door meeting with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, intensifying speculation about a potential third front in national politics. This discussion comes at a time when friction between the DMK and Congress has escalated, raising doubts about the future of the opposition INDIA alliance. While there is no official confirmation that any new alliance was finalized during the talks, reports indicate that Kanimozhi arrived at Banerjee's Kalighat residence in south Kolkata at around 3:40 PM on Thursday and departed roughly an hour and a half later. According to a TMC leader, the two leaders discussed multiple issues behind closed doors, though the specifics of the conversation were not made public.
Kanimozhi Outreach to Other Regional Heavyweights
Prior to meeting Banerjee, Kanimozhi held a series of consultations with various regional leaders. She traveled to Mumbai to meet Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accompanied by party MPs Anil Desai and Milind Narvekar. Discussions reportedly covered delimitation proposals, opposition strategy, and the role of regional parties within the INDIA bloc. Subsequently, Kanimozhi met Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar and his daughter, MP Supriya Sule, in New Delhi. These meetings are widely viewed as concerted efforts to build stronger coordination among regional factions.
Tensions Over By-Elections and Changing Dynamics
Meanwhile, the upcoming by-elections for the Nandighat and Rejinagar assembly seats in West Bengal, scheduled for October 6, add significant weight to the current political equations. Both the TMC and Congress have fielded their own candidates for these seats. While earlier reports suggested that the TMC had offered a seat arrangement to Congress regarding Nandighat, the TMC later denied making any such offer. Relations between the DMK and Congress have shifted following the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, with the DMK skipping an INDIA bloc meeting in June. Against this backdrop, Kanimozhi is actively engaging with regional leaders to recalibrate opposition dynamics.
