Mamata Banerjee meets Kejriwal ahead of INDIA bloc meeting
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New Delhi: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi on Sunday, a day ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled to be held in the national capital.
Describing the interaction as "warm", the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said the two leaders held extensive discussions on "the road ahead".
In a post on X, the party said, "Our Hon'ble Chairperson Smt Mamata Banerjee along with our Hon'ble National General Secretary Shri Abhishek Banerjee met with Shri Arvind Kejriwal Ji today, in Delhi."
"Following a warm interaction, they held an extensive discussion on the road ahead," the party added.
The TMC also issued a call for opposition unity and referred to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, stating: "When the people of India unite, no force on earth can stop their march towards justice, dignity and a better future in 2029."
Mamata Banerjee is in Delhi to attend Monday's INDIA bloc meeting, where 23 opposition parties are expected to discuss a fresh strategy to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and address internal differences that have emerged following the recent Assembly election defeats of regional alliance partners TMC and DMK.
The meeting between Banerjee and Kejriwal assumes significance as it comes months after the Aam Aadmi Party announced that it was no longer part of the INDIA alliance. AAP is not expected to participate in Monday's meeting.
The INDIA bloc gathering is also taking place amid growing strains within the opposition alliance. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is set to skip the meeting, citing what it has termed the Congress party's "betrayal" in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expressed displeasure over allegations by senior Congress leaders that the Left had colluded with the BJP in Kerala.
Despite AAP's exit from the INDIA bloc, the TMC has maintained close engagement with Kejriwal and his party. Leaders of both parties have met several times over the past two years, including during opposition outreach efforts following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and ahead of major consultations among opposition parties.
The TMC has also consistently backed Kejriwal and AAP in their disputes with the Centre.
There was no immediate indication from either side on whether Sunday's discussions included the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting or the possibility of future opposition coordination.
With PTI inputs