Rahul Gandhi Accuses TMC Of Helping BJP Strengthen In West Bengal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during his first election campaign in poll-bound West Bengal, accusing the two parties of weakening the state’s development and industrial base. He addressed public rallies in Raiganj and Malda districts, areas that were once considered strongholds of the Congress party.

Gandhi alleged that the TMC government in West Bengal was indirectly helping the BJP expand its political influence in the state, despite ongoing political rivalry between the two parties. He claimed that poor governance and failure to generate employment opportunities had created space for the BJP to strengthen its organisational presence in the state.

Targeting the Centre, the Congress leader accused the BJP-led Union government of withholding funds meant for West Bengal’s development. He stated that nearly ₹2 lakh crore had not been provided to the state and also criticised cuts in allocations under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Gandhi further alleged that no significant development projects had been sanctioned for West Bengal in the Union Budget.

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He also asserted that the BJP’s political influence in West Bengal would have remained limited if the state government had effectively addressed issues such as unemployment and violence. According to him, governance failures at the state level have contributed to a political environment that benefits the opposition BJP.

The campaign marks a significant shift for the Congress in West Bengal, as the party contests elections independently after previously aligning with either the TMC or the Left in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Since 2006, this is the first time Congress is fighting Assembly polls in the state without forming alliances, signalling a strategic repositioning ahead of the electoral battle.

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