Kolkata: A significant turning point has emerged in West Bengal politics ahead of the assembly elections. Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Mausam Benazir Noor has officially returned to the Indian National Congress. This development, coming just before the 2026 assembly elections, is being seen as a major political relief for the Congress and “good news” from Bengal. This development is being seen not just as a defection but as a sign of the state’s shifting political axis.
Mausam Noor belongs to the influential Khan Choudhary family of Malda. She is the niece of Ghani Khan Choudhary, a veteran North Bengal leader who enjoyed a strong support base in Muslim-majority areas for decades. Her return to the Congress party is expected to strengthen the party’s organizational standing in North Bengal, especially in districts like Malda, Murshidabad, and North Dinajpur. These are areas where the Congress once held sway, but over time, the rise of the TMC and BJP has weakened the party.
On Saturday, Mausam Noor joined the Congress at the AICC headquarters in Delhi. The presence of the Congress leadership and state Congress president Subhankar Sarkar on the occasion added political weight to the move. The party dubbed it a “Bengal Breakthrough,” indicating that the party is now poised to regain its political foothold in the state. It’s worth noting that Mausam Noor’s Rajya Sabha term ends in April 2026, but her return before that time is considered crucial for the Congress’s electoral strategy.
Her distance from the TMC has also been a topic of discussion in political circles. According to sources, after joining the TMC in 2019, she initially held the responsibility of district president, but was later marginalized. Her role in decision-making and programs within the party has been increasingly limited, leading to growing dissatisfaction. Political analysts believe that she did not receive the respect and influence she had hoped for within the TMC.
