Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has ignited fresh controversy by publicly calling on Rahul Gandhi to relinquish leadership of the INDIA opposition alliance to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In a pointed remark made ahead of the Bengal assembly elections, Aiyar argued that Mamata's influence is indispensable, quipping that without "Mamata di," the very acronym "INDIA" would lose its core letters.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Aiyar positioned Mamata as the natural chief of the anti-BJP coalition, suggesting Rahul Gandhi should step aside for regional leaders like DMK's MK Stalin, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, or RJD's Tejashwi Yadav. "Mamata Banerjee should be the leader of the INDIA bloc," he asserted, adding that a handful of strong regional voices could better unite the alliance. This marks another bold stance from Aiyar, who has previously lauded non-Congress figures like Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

Congress leaders in West Bengal wasted no time in rebuking Aiyar. State general secretary Suman Roy Chowdhury labeled him disconnected from ground realities, hinting his comments might stem from the party's empty Rajya Sabha seats in the state. "You have no stakes left in the party," Chowdhury retorted, while also accusing Mamata's Trinamool of covertly supporting the BJP. Trinamool's Kunal Ghosh avoided engaging directly, instead highlighting their focus on securing Mamata's fourth term amid anti-BJP rhetoric.

The episode exposes deepening rifts in the INDIA bloc, where Congress's central authority often butts heads with regional powerhouses. With Bengal polls on the horizon—where Congress navigates rivalries with both Trinamool and BJP—this could erode fragile ties, reminiscent of past issues like Nitish Kumar's switches or seat-sharing disputes. As searches for "Mamata Banerjee INDIA bloc chief" surge, Rahul Gandhi's silence or response may signal a pivotal shift in opposition dynamics.