New Delhi: The Congress has stepped up its political offensive against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), signalling a more aggressive campaign strategy as Assembly elections draw closer in the state.
Senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are expected to play an active role in the party’s election outreach, with the focus firmly on exposing what the Congress describes as the “failures and excesses” of the TMC government. Party sources indicated that the Congress will no longer hold back criticism in the name of Opposition unity and will contest the elections independently, asserting its own political space in Bengal.
The Congress has accused the Mamata Banerjee government of corruption, administrative collapse, rising crime, and political intolerance, alleging that democratic institutions in the state have weakened under TMC rule. Leaders have also pointed to scams, alleged misuse of power, and deteriorating law‑and‑order conditions as key campaign issues.
According to party insiders, Rahul Gandhi is likely to target unemployment, economic distress and alleged corruption, while Priyanka Gandhi will focus on women’s safety and grassroots mobilisation.
The Congress believes that dissatisfaction among sections of voters provides an opportunity to revive its footprint in Bengal, where it once played a major political role.
The sharper tone reflects growing friction within the Opposition space, particularly as the Congress distances itself from the TMC despite both being part of the broader anti‑BJP narrative at the national level. Congress leaders argue that regional dominance by the TMC has marginalised democratic choices, leaving voters with “no real alternative” in the state.
As campaigning intensifies, West Bengal is shaping up to be a complex electoral battleground with the BJP, TMC and Congress all pursuing distinct strategies. The Congress’s direct confrontation with Mamata Banerjee marks a clear shift aimed at political revival rather than tactical accommodation.