In a show of solidarity within the opposition alliance INDIA, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to campaign for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the upcoming Wayanad Lok Sabha by-poll. Priyanka is entering electoral politics from Wayanad, following her brother Rahul Gandhi's decision to vacate the seat and retain Rae Bareli.
Sources in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) revealed that Banerjee had not only expressed her willingness to support Priyanka's campaign but had also previously suggested that Priyanka should run against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.
This move comes shortly after a meeting between Banerjee and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, described as a "courtesy call," and ahead of the upcoming Parliament session. Banerjee has been advocating for better coordination among opposition members, who collectively hold 232 Lok Sabha seats.
The Wayanad by-poll, necessitated by Rahul Gandhi's seat swap, is significant for the Congress, as Rahul won the seat twice. Banerjee's support underscores the strength of the opposition alliance even after the Lok Sabha elections, aiming to present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
