After seven years, Sovan Chatterjee with Baisakhi Banerjee rejoins Trinamool Congress

In a stunning twist to West Bengal's ever-shifting political landscape, former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, made a return to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) fold today, seven years after his dramatic exit amid personal and professional turmoil. Accompanied by his longtime companion Baisakhi Banerjee, Sovan stepped into the TMC headquarters in Kolkata to a warm embrace from party heavyweights, including state president Subrata Bakshi and Urban Minister Aroop Biswas, who draped garlands around their necks in a traditional welcome. This reunion caps months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, sparked by secret meetings with TMC National General Secretary & MP Abhishek Banerjee in September and a secret meeting with Mamata in Darjeeling last month during her disaster relief tour in flood-ravaged North Bengal.

Sovan, who had resigned as mayor and cabinet minister in 2018 before defecting to the BJP in 2021, declared, "My veins, my blood—everything is TMC. This is my home, my family. I'll work to make the party stronger than ever." His re-induction, approved by the party's top brass, signals TMC's strategy to reclaim urban strongholds ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.

Sovan's journey back wasn't overnight; it simmered through whispers and what-ifs since his BJP stint soured quickly. After joining the saffron camp with high hopes, he found himself sidelined, prompting multiple false starts at reconciliation with TMC. Last month in October, his administrative comeback began with an appointment as chairman of the NKDA (New Town Kolkata Development Authority). But the real thaw came in Darjeeling's misty hills, where Sovan and Baisakhi's casual visit with Mamata Banerjee leading to a pivotal closed-door chat. Baisakhi, who had mirrored his political odyssey, was equally welcomed warmly.

Sovan's return underscores TMC's pragmatic playbook: forgive, forget, and fortify. For a party eyeing a fourth term, Sovan's charisma and civic expertise could prove invaluable in wooing back disgruntled urban voters. For now, though, in the corridors of TMC Bhavan, it's all about fresh starts and renewed vigor, with Sovan vowing to channel his "TMC blood" into the party's relentless drive