After a seasoned policy analyst called for her elevation, Mamata Banerjee stands at the centre of renewed debate over leadership within India’s principal opposition alliance. Sanjaya Baru, former media adviser and chief spokesperson to ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008, has publicly endorsed the Trinamool Congress leader as the Opposition’s prime ministerial face, arguing that her leadership could reshape the broad anti-ruling party coalition’s strategy against the governing Bharatiya Janata Party. He made the case in an opinion piece in a national newspaper, setting off fresh discussion among opposition figures and political strategists ahead of key elections in several states. Baru’s commentary underscores his assessment that India’s political landscape remains dominated by male leadership at the national and regional levels even as women have expanded their roles across professions. He singled out Banerjee as a standout political figure, noting her long-standing role as head of both her party and the government in West Bengal. “It is time the country had a second woman prime minister, and no one fits the bill better than Ms Banerjee,” he wrote, highlighting what he described as her political resilience and nationwide appeal.
The piece also argued that the opposition’s current leadership model, represented by figures such as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party’s senior ranks, has failed to cohere a compelling narrative against the BJP. Baru said that this continuation of past leadership strategies — likened to the partnership of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh — has not delivered the expected electoral dividends or opposition unity.
His intervention has drawn explicit support from members of Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, with party deputy leader in the upper house of Parliament Sagarika Ghose sharing the article on social media and asserting that the suggestion is “an idea whose time has come.” The endorsement from within the TMC signals a readiness among some opposition ranks to elevate Banerjee’s profile on the national stage.
Political analysts point out that the landscape of opposition politics has been marked by internal contestation over leadership and strategy since the formation of the INDIA alliance, a coalition of parties formed to challenge the BJP’s dominance. While the alliance brings together a diverse range of regional and national parties, critics of its current leadership argue that it lacks a singular, unifying figure capable of galvanising voters across states. Banerjee, with her reputation as a combative and high-profile leader, commands attention as a possible focal point for such a role.
However, not all voices within the broader Opposition have rallied behind the idea of elevating Banerjee. Prominent figures in other parties have at times pushed alternative leadership options, favouring leaders with different regional bases or ideological appeal. Some strategists argue the Opposition’s challenge lies in finding strategic coherence rather than simply nominating a single figurehead.
Baru also acknowledged limitations in Banerjee’s political portfolio, particularly pointing to what he described as mixed assessments of her governance record in West Bengal. He contrasted her administrative track record with that of other regional leaders and suggested that while no chief minister’s record is without blemish, Banerjee’s tenure has been notable for key achievements in her state’s development.
The call for a woman leader touches on broader discussions about gender representation at the highest levels of Indian politics. India has had only one woman prime minister to date, and Baru’s argument invokes that historical milestone as part of his rationale for pushing Banerjee to the forefront. Analysts say that tapping into gender symbolism could offer electoral resonance, particularly among women voters who represent a significant portion of the electorate in several battleground states.
Banerjee’s own political trajectory has been shaped by her long tenure as chief minister of West Bengal and her ability to sustain her party’s influence in a competitive political environment. Her supporters view her as a leader with grassroots connections and electoral resilience, capable of challenging the BJP’s dominance beyond her home state. But detractors caution that the complexities of national politics require broader consensus building within the Opposition coalition than any single endorsement can guarantee.