Trinamool Congress MPs Attend Meeting with BJP Leader Amid Strife

In a significant political development, senior Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, along with six party MLAs, attended an administrative review meeting led by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 26 May 2026 in Kalyani. This gathering is seen as a reflection of the shifting political dynamics within the state following a recent electoral setback for the Trinamool Congress.

The meeting included other notable Trinamool MLAs, such as Anisur Rahaman Biswas from Deganga, Bina Mondal from Swarupnagar, and Mohammad Abdul Matin from Haroa, as well as representatives from the Basirhat region. The event brought together various officials and elected representatives from North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and Hooghly districts. Political analysts are raising eyebrows at the optics of this gathering, particularly considering Ms. Ghosh Dastidar's turbulent relationship with her party.

Recently, Ms. Ghosh Dastidar resigned from her position as the Trinamool’s Barasat organisational district president, following her removal as the parliamentary party chief whip in August 2025. She had publicly expressed her discontent over her treatment within the party, specifically noting, "Association since 1976, journey began in 1984. Today I have been rewarded for four decades of loyalty." This statement has fueled speculation regarding ongoing unrest within the Trinamool Congress.

In response to inquiries about her presence at the meeting, Ms. Ghosh Dastidar downplayed its significance. She stated, "Administration belongs to everyone." Similarly, the attending MLAs maintained that their participation was solely for developmental purposes. Ms. Mondal emphasised her commitment to enhancing her constituency, asserting, "I have come for the development of my constituency. A total of six of our MLAs have joined the meeting." Mr. Matin echoed these sentiments, pointing to the need for governmental assistance in underdeveloped areas.

During the event, Chief Minister Adhikari framed the meeting as a departure from previous political norms in West Bengal. He remarked, "When we were in the Opposition, we were not invited to administrative meetings. We decided lawmakers would be invited." He also noted that the participation from opposition legislators indicated the potential for constructive collaboration throughout the year, rather than just during election cycles.

Interestingly, the meeting gained unexpected backing from within the Trinamool Congress itself. MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, who had recently been critical of certain leadership decisions, lauded the inclusiveness of the gathering as a positive shift in democratic practices. He lamented that such opportunities had been lacking over the past 15 years.

Given the intensely polarised nature of West Bengal’s political landscape, the attendance of six Trinamool MLAs alongside Ms. Ghosh Dastidar at a BJP meeting carries implications that may extend beyond mere functional collaboration. The visuals from this meeting suggest a notable shift in the post-poll equation in West Bengal, where the significance of appearances often outweighs verbal statements.