The meeting marked the first such interaction between the two leaders in nearly five years and came at a time when Banerjee and her party are grappling with their biggest political crisis following the BJP's sweeping victory in last month's West Bengal Assembly elections.

TMC battles rebellion after electoral rout

The Trinamool Congress has been facing growing turbulence since its defeat, with a section of MLAs revolting against the party leadership.

The unrest later spread to the parliamentary wing, where several MPs also reportedly expressed dissent.

Against this backdrop, Banerjee's meeting with Sonia Gandhi triggered speculation about possible political discussions concerning the future of opposition politics and the INDIA alliance.

No Rahul Gandhi, no major political talks?

Political observers, however, played down the possibility of any major strategic breakthrough emerging from the meeting.

They pointed out that Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was not present during the interaction.

Analysts noted that significant decisions regarding Congress's political strategy are unlikely to be taken without his involvement.

Hug at INDIA meet fuels speculation

The meeting came a day after Mamata Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi shared a hug at the INDIA bloc gathering in Delhi before sitting next to each other during the proceedings.

The Trinamool Congress later posted photographs of the interaction on social media, portraying it as a reflection of the long-standing relationship between the two leaders.

"The smiles said what words could not... a bond strengthened through decades of dedicated service to the nation. Our Hon'ble Chairperson @MamataOfficial with Sonia Gandhi Ji, today in Delhi," the party said in a post on X.

Mamata raises Election Commission issue

Sources said Banerjee raised concerns regarding the role of the Election Commission during the West Bengal Assembly elections and reiterated the importance of maintaining unity among parties in the INDIA coalition.

The discussion comes amid heightened political tensions following the BJP's return to power in the state.

From Congress rebel to INDIA ally

Banerjee founded the All India Trinamool Congress in 1998 after breaking away from the Indian National Congress.

Despite years of political rivalry, the Congress and Trinamool joined hands to oust the Left Front government in West Bengal in 2011.

The alliance ended the following year, but communication channels remained open, and both parties later became constituents of the INDIA bloc formed ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The latest meeting between Banerjee and Sonia Gandhi is likely to keep political circles guessing about the future dynamics within the opposition alliance as the Trinamool navigates a challenging phase in Bengal politics.