Congress Ends Alliance with Left, Opts to Go Solo in West Bengal Assembly Polls
In a significant political development, the Congress party has announced that it will contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections alone, marking a decisive break from its previous alliances with the Left. This decision comes just days after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ruled out a potential tie-up, despite reportedly offering two seats to the Congress.
High-Level Meetings and Internal Deliberations Shape the Decision
The announcement was made following crucial meetings in Delhi, where Congress leaders from West Bengal, including state party chief Subhankar Sarkar, met with senior national leaders such as party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Sources indicate that the TMC's offer of merely two seats was deemed unacceptable by the Congress leadership, prompting a reevaluation of their electoral strategy.
Ghulam Ahmad Mir, the All India Congress Committee's Bengal in-charge, stated, "Discussions were held over the Congress's roadmap for the Assembly elections. All leaders gave their opinions. The leadership's view was that the party will contest the Bengal polls alone this time. The national leadership stands with the state's leadership's decision."
Historical Context and Electoral Performance
In the 2016 and 2021 Assembly polls, the Congress contested 92 seats in alliance with the Left. While it managed to secure 44 seats with a 12.25% vote share in 2016, the party drew a blank in the 2021 elections, witnessing a drastic decline in its vote share to just 3%. This poor performance has been a key factor in the decision to go solo, as leaders argue that dependence on alliances has hindered the party's revival in the state for over two decades.
During the meetings, Bengal leaders reportedly emphasized to the high command that the Congress's reliance on alliances has prevented it from rebuilding its grassroots network. They also noted that a decision on the chief ministerial face would be deferred until after the election results are announced, allowing the party to focus on its campaign without internal distractions.
Strategic Shift with an Eye on Future Revival
Sudip Roy Barman, the Congress observer for the Bengal polls, admitted that the alliance with the Left did not yield the desired results. He explained, "We could not win even a single seat in 2021. It cannot get worse than this and hence we have decided to contest alone." This sentiment reflects a broader strategic shift, with the party hoping that going solo will enable it to reconnect with voters and attempt a revival of its grassroots presence in West Bengal.
Left's Response and Internal Divisions Within Congress
The Left parties have also expressed reluctance to form an alliance with the Congress, citing the latter's declining vote share and referring to it as a "liability" in Bengal. Md Selim, the CPI(M) state secretary, commented in Kolkata, "We want all anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces to unite but we have learnt that the Congress is in talks with the TMC. Hence, we are not expecting any alliance with the Congress."
This decision to contest alone has seemingly resolved internal divisions within the West Bengal Congress unit. While one faction, led by state president Subhankar Sarkar, advocated for shedding political expediency and focusing on long-term revival by avoiding alliances, another section believed that an alliance with the Left was necessary to remain relevant in what is largely seen as a two-cornered fight between the TMC and BJP.
By choosing to go it alone, the Congress aims to carve out a distinct political space in West Bengal, free from the constraints of alliances that have historically limited its growth. The upcoming elections will be a critical test of this new strategy, as the party seeks to rebuild its electoral fortunes in a state where it has struggled to make a significant impact in recent years.
