Rahul Gandhi meets Abhishek Banerjee amid push to coordinate INDIA bloc

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addresses the media after the INDIA Alliance meeting at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on June 8. Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee were also present. | Photo credit: ANI

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in New Delhi on Wednesday (June 10, 2026), a day after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee held talks with former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

There was no official word on what happened on Tuesday, June 9, at 10 Janpath, Mrs. Gandhi’s official residence. However, the meetings are taking place against the backdrop of efforts to create unity and better coordination within the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

At a meeting of the INDIA bloc on Monday (June 8), opposition leaders stressed the need for greater coordination among constitutional parties and a united approach on issues of public concern. Ms Banerjee urged the alliance partners to put aside their differences and work together to strengthen the opposition’s collective challenge to the BJP.

Congress leadership meeting

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also called a meeting of his party colleagues on Thursday (June 11). “An emergency meeting of PCC AICC general secretaries, trustees and presidents will be held tomorrow, June 11, 2026, at Indira Bhavan, New Delhi to discuss current political developments,” Congress general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal said in a post on X.

Tomorrow, June 11, 2026, an emergency meeting of AICC General Secretaries, Trustees and PCC Presidents will be held at Indira Bhavan, New Delhi to discuss current political developments.

INC President Sh. Mallikarjuna @kharge she will chair this crucial meeting.

— KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) June 10, 2026

The meetings between the Congress and the Trinamool leadership have also fueled speculation that Ms Banerjee’s party might tie up with the Congress.

However, sources described the interactions as part of ongoing talks between the Congress and the Trinamool after the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday (June 8).

Published – 10 Jun 2026 21:27 IST