Rahul Gandhi meets Abhishek Banerjee amid push for INDIA bloc coordination

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

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 the 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 transpired in the meeting at 10 Janpath, Ms. Gandhi’s official residence, on Tuesday (June 9). The meetings, however, come against the backdrop of efforts to forge unity and better coordination within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

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

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also called for a meeting of his party colleagues on Thursday (June 11). “An urgent meeting of AICC General Secretaries, In-charges and PCC Presidents will be held tomorrow, 11 June 2026, at Indira Bhavan, New Delhi, to discuss current political developments,” Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal said, in a post on X.

An urgent meeting of AICC General Secretaries, In-charges and PCC Presidents will be held tomorrow, 11 June, 2026 at Indira Bhavan, New Delhi, to discuss current political developments.INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji will preside over this crucial meeting.

The meetings between the Congress and Trinamool leadership has also given rise to speculation that Ms. Banerjee’s party may merge with the Congress.

Sources, however, described the interactions as part of t