Prashant Kishor Dismisses Merger Speculation
Political strategist Prashant Kishor has firmly rejected the notion of a potential merger between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Indian National Congress. Speaking to News Tak, the Jan Suraaj founder stated he sees no possibility of such a union occurring in West Bengal over the next five, seven, or even ten years. "I don't think that will ever happen," Kishor asserted, dismissing the ongoing buzz.
Kishor emphasized that major political parties are not created or dissolved overnight. "The TMC wasn't built overnight, and it won't disappear overnight either. The same applies to the Congress or the BJP," he explained, highlighting that political entities develop deep roots over many years and through significant effort.
Why Mergers Are Rare in Indian Politics
Distinguishing between electoral alliances and formal mergers, Kishor pointed out that parties often retain their distinct identities even when collaborating politically. He cited examples of smaller allies within the BJP-led NDA, questioning whether leaders like Jitan Ram Manjhi or Chirag Paswan would merge their parties into the BJP.
To illustrate his point, Kishor used a corporate analogy: "Hindustan Unilever makes both Rin and Surf. When you buy either product, the money ultimately goes to Hindustan Unilever. Does that mean the company should merge both brands into one?" He argued that strategic reasons often dictate the maintenance of separate identities. According to Kishor, mergers are a significant and rare step, typically only considered when a party can no longer sustain itself independently.
TMC's Complacency and Defections
Reflecting on recent political developments in West Bengal, Kishor also touched upon factors contributing to the TMC's performance. He suggested that complacency played a role in recent setbacks. He recalled that ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, when he was associated with the party, there was a strong sense of pressure, which pushed the TMC to work harder.
In contrast, recent comfortable wins in panchayat elections and a better-than-expected Lok Sabha performance might have led to a sense of overconfidence within the TMC, while the BJP arrived much better prepared. Regarding reports of MLAs and MPs distancing themselves from the TMC, Kishor argued that a party's strength cannot be measured solely by defections. He highlighted that over two crore voters in Bengal backed the TMC, reflecting support for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her policies, a force that outweighs the movement of a few legislators.