In a dramatic development in North 24 Parganas’ Noapara, senior politician Sunil Singh has been inducted into the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) election committee for the upcoming 2026 polls. This move comes just days after a video surfaced showing Singh publicly seeking the blessings of BJP heavyweight Arjun Singh during a Ram Navami procession. The incident had triggered intense speculation that Sunil Singh was ready to jump ship to the BJP.

The Context of the Controversy: Sunil Singh, a relative of Arjun Singh, has had a roller-coaster relationship with the TMC leadership. His absence from several key party programs and his increasing interaction with saffron brigade leaders led many to believe that his switch to the BJP was a “done deal.” However, the TMC high command seems to have played a tactical masterstroke by assigning him a crucial role in the poll strategy team.

TMC’s Counter-Strategy: By giving Sunil Singh a position in the election committee, the TMC aims to prevent a vertical split in its Hindi-speaking vote bank in Noapara. Party insiders suggest that the leadership preferred “keeping a disgruntled leader close” rather than letting him strengthen the opposition just before the elections. The decision is seen as a way to neutralize Arjun Singh’s influence in the region by keeping his influential relative within the TMC fold.

Internal Dissent and Future Prospects: Despite the official appointment, a section of grassroots TMC workers is skeptical. They argue that appointing a leader who publicly shows reverence to an arch-rival could compromise the party’s confidential strategies. As the 2026 battle for Bengal intensifies, Sunil Singh’s role will be under heavy scrutiny. Whether he acts as a loyalist or a bridge for the BJP remains to be seen, but for now, he is firmly a part of Mamata Banerjee’s election machinery.