Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee sidestepped a direct question on whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would be the INDIA bloc's prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Asked about it after a high-profile opposition meeting in New Delhi on September 30, Banerjee deflected the question with a light remark, saying 'You will be the candidate,' and added that a press conference would be held where details would be shared.

The exchange, captured on camera and shared by news agency ANI, has triggered fresh debate about leadership within the opposition alliance, which has not yet projected a clear face for the top post.

The Congress has consistently backed Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, while several alliance partners have stayed quiet about publicly endorsing him.

Reacting to Banerjee's remarks, BJP leader and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the opposition's own constituents were unwilling to accept Gandhi as their leader.