KOLKATA: The Indian National Congress has sparked a new stir in West Bengal politics. For the 2026 Assembly elections, the Congress High Command has given the green light to contest independently in all 294 constituencies, choosing not to form an alliance with either Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) or the Left Front.
This decisive move came after lengthy discussions in Delhi, aimed at addressing the setbacks faced by party workers due to previous alliance politics.
High-Voltage Meeting in Delhi
A crucial meeting was held in Delhi on Thursday (February 5) under the leadership of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Key participants included West Bengal Congress In-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir, PCC President Subhankar Sarkar, and senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Speaking after the meeting, Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated, "Previous alliances had dampened the morale of our workers. To reclaim our strength, a unanimous decision has been taken to contest solo in every seat across the state."
Key Highlights of the Report:
Demands from Ground Workers: The Congress suffered heavy losses in the last election due to its tie-up with the Left parties. Grassroots workers, who opposed this, had expressed that a solo run is essential to preserve the party's identity.
Bitter Memories of the Past: In the 2021 elections, the Congress-Left alliance resulted in the Congress failing to win even a single seat, drawing a blank. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee secured 213 seats, and the BJP emerged as a strong opposition with 77 seats.
A Third Path Between 'Modi and Didi': Amidst the direct head-to-head battle between the TMC and the BJP, the Congress is preparing to offer itself as an alternative force to the voters.
Political Analysis
This decision represents a significant gamble by the Congress to rebuild its own existence within Mamata Banerjee’s fortress. Fighting without the constraints of an alliance is expected to infuse new enthusiasm into the party leadership and its foot soldiers. However, the ultimate curiosity remains: how many seats can the Congress actually wrest away from giants like the TMC and the BJP?