TMC MP Mausam Benazir Noor joins Congress in presence of Jairam Ramesh

In a significant blow to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Rajya Sabha MP Mausam Benazir Noor has officially returned to the Indian National Congress. Mausam, a prominent political face from Malda and the niece of the legendary Ghani Khan Choudhury, joined the party at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Saturday. The induction took place in the presence of senior leaders including Jairam Ramesh and PCC President Shubhankar Sarkar.

Mausam Noor had a decade-long association with the Congress, serving as a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Malda North between 2009 and 2019. However, just before the 2019 General Elections, she switched over to the TMC. While she was later sent to the Rajya Sabha by Mamata Banerjee, reports of her growing discontent had been circulating for over a year. Sources suggest that being sidelined during the 2024 ticket distribution was a major factor behind her decision to sever ties with the ruling party.

Welcoming her back, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that Mausam’s return would significantly strengthen the party’s footing in North Bengal, particularly in the Malda and Dinajpur belts. He emphasized that her lineage and grassroots connect make her an invaluable asset for the Congress as it prepares for the high-stakes 2026 battle. Mausam herself hinted at a lack of internal democracy and unfulfilled promises as reasons for her departure from the TMC.