Kolkata: With the 2029 Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, fresh political activity among several regional parties has triggered speculation about a possible realignment within India’s opposition camp. Recent meetings involving DMK MP Kanimozhi and prominent opposition leaders have added to discussions about whether regional parties could explore a new political grouping in which the Congress plays a reduced role or is not included.
The speculation intensified following reports of a meeting between Kanimozhi and Mamata Banerjee at Banerjee’s Kalighat residence in Kolkata. Some political observers have interpreted the outreach as an indication that regional parties may be exploring closer coordination outside the existing opposition framework.
Kanimozhi’s outreach has not been limited to West Bengal. She has also recently met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule. According to reports citing political sources, she could also hold discussions with Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
TMC sources have pointed to Mamata Banerjee’s longstanding relationship with DMK chief M.K. Stalin and her contacts with several non-NDA regional parties. These interactions have contributed to speculation about whether a broader regional political platform could eventually emerge.
Reports have linked the discussions to differences between some regional parties and the Congress over electoral strategy, alliances and seat-sharing arrangements. Political relationships among opposition parties have undergone changes in several states, adding further uncertainty over how they may align ahead of the next general election.
Similar tensions have also been reported between the Congress and the TMC in West Bengal, particularly over electoral cooperation and seat-sharing. Leaders from the parties involved have offered differing accounts of the situation, leaving the extent of any proposed political realignment unclear.
For now, there has been no formal announcement of a new alliance. However, the series of meetings among prominent regional leaders has intensified political attention on whether a new configuration could emerge ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
