India is scheduled to hold the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, with political activity intensifying ahead of the polls. The Congress party has announced a decision regarding its electoral strategy in the state.
Decision Taken at Congress Working Committee Meeting
The Congress has decided to contest all 294 seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly independently and not enter into any alliance with other political parties, including the Trinamool Congress or the Left Front. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee held in New Delhi, which was attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and senior leaders from West Bengal.
Rationale for Contesting Independently
Congress general secretary and in-charge for West Bengal Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that past experiences with alliances and seat-sharing arrangements had been disappointing for the party. He stated that previous arrangements had weakened the morale of party workers at the grassroots level.
Mir said the decision to contest independently was aimed at strengthening the party’s electoral approach and revitalising the organisation. He said that fighting the elections alone would boost the morale of party workers and help improve organisational functioning, adding that the decision was taken after considering the views of leaders and workers across the state.
Statement by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Senior West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the decision had been taken by the party high command. He said the Congress would contest the elections independently and was preparing with its candidates and workers to reach out directly to the public.
He said the party had already begun election preparations in the state and that meetings with party workers and leaders were being held regularly to formulate the electoral strategy. He said the plans included campaign activities, candidate selection, strengthening local organisational units, and conducting campaigns on social media platforms.
