Congress Launches Solo Push to Rebuild Base in West Bengal Ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections

The Indian National Congress is preparing for an uphill battle to regain relevance in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections after drawing a blank in the 2021 polls. The party’s wipeout marked its worst performance in the state since India’s first general elections in 1951–52, underscoring the steep political ground it must recover.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Congress had entered into an alliance with the CPM-led Left Front, but the partnership failed to yield results, with both sides unable to secure a single seat. The outcome significantly weakened the party’s organisational presence and voter confidence in a state where it once held considerable influence.

This time, Congress plans to contest largely on its own, a strategic shift after nearly two decades of alliance politics in Bengal. Party leaders say the move is aimed not only at winning back a handful of seats but also at rebuilding the Congress brand as a credible long-term political alternative in the state’s increasingly bipolar contest.

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Isha Khan Chowdhury, the party’s lone Lok Sabha MP from Maldah Dakshin, said the strategy operates on two levels: immediate electoral recovery and long-term organisational revival. He acknowledged that Congress’s identity in West Bengal had become diluted over the years due to repeated alliances with parties such as the Left and the Trinamool Congress.

Political observers note that Congress faces stiff competition from the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and the expanding presence of the Bharatiya Janata Party, both of which have consolidated large vote bases in recent elections. Rebuilding grassroots networks and reconnecting with traditional support groups will be critical if the party hopes to regain even limited ground.

With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, Congress leaders say the focus will be on booth-level strengthening, candidate selection, and targeted outreach in pockets where the party still retains historical goodwill. Whether the solo strategy can translate into electoral gains remains uncertain, but the party appears determined to move beyond its “zero” moment in Bengal politics.

The Indian National Congress is preparing for an uphill battle to regain relevance in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections after drawing a blank in the 2021 polls. The party’s wipeout marked its worst performance in the state since India’s first general elections in 1951–52, underscoring the steep political ground it must recover.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Congress had entered into an alliance with the CPM-led Left Front, but the partnership failed to yield results, with both sides unable to secure a single seat. The outcome significantly weakened the party’s organisational presence and voter confidence in a state where it once held considerable influence.

This time, Congress plans to contest largely on its own, a strategic shift after nearly two decades of alliance politics in Bengal. Party leaders say the move is aimed not only at winning back a handful of seats but also at rebuilding the Congress brand as a credible long-term political alternative in the state’s increasingly bipolar contest.

Isha Khan Chowdhury, the party’s lone Lok Sabha MP from Maldah Dakshin, said the strategy operates on two levels: immediate electoral recovery and long-term organisational revival. He acknowledged that Congress’s identity in West Bengal had become diluted over the years due to repeated alliances with parties such as the Left and the Trinamool Congress.

Political observers note that Congress faces stiff competition from the ruling All India Trinamool Congress and the expanding presence of the Bharatiya Janata Party, both of which have consolidated large vote bases in recent elections. Rebuilding grassroots networks and reconnecting with traditional support groups will be critical if the party hopes to regain even limited ground.

With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, Congress leaders say the focus will be on booth-level strengthening, candidate selection, and targeted outreach in pockets where the party still retains historical goodwill. Whether the solo strategy can translate into electoral gains remains uncertain, but the party appears determined to move beyond its “zero” moment in Bengal politics.

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