Top News

Congress – The Congress has announced that it will contest the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections on its own, fielding candidates in all 294 constituencies across the state. The decision marks a clear shift in the party’s electoral approach and was finalised during a high-level strategy meeting involving senior national leaders and members of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.

Decision Finalised After Strategic Review

The announcement was made on Thursday following detailed discussions on the party’s preparedness and long-term plans for West Bengal. State Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir briefed the media after the meeting, saying that the leadership had carefully reviewed past election outcomes, organisational feedback, and ground-level assessments before reaching a conclusion.

According to Mir, the meeting focused on strengthening the party’s independent presence in the state ahead of the Assembly polls, which are expected to be held between April and May. He confirmed that the party would begin preparations with the assumption that it would contest every seat without entering into any electoral alliances.

Focus on Rebuilding Party Organisation

Mir explained that previous alliance arrangements had negatively affected the morale of Congress workers in West Bengal. He said feedback from district-level leaders and grassroots workers suggested that alliance politics had diluted the party’s identity and weakened its organisational strength on the ground.

By contesting independently, the Congress aims to re-establish its political footprint in the state and give its cadre a clear sense of purpose. Party leaders believe that fighting on all seats will allow workers to reconnect with voters directly and rebuild confidence within the organisation.

Lessons from the 2021 Assembly Elections

The decision also reflects lessons drawn from the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the Congress had joined hands with the Left Front. Despite the alliance, the party failed to secure a single seat, raising questions within the organisation about the effectiveness of such arrangements in the state’s current political landscape.

Senior leaders reportedly felt that the alliance did not translate into electoral gains and instead contributed to confusion among voters and party supporters. The lack of success prompted internal discussions on whether continuing with similar partnerships would benefit the party in future elections.

Response to Left’s Alliance Signals

The move comes at a time when the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has indicated openness to reviving an alliance with the Congress in West Bengal. However, the Congress leadership appears to have ruled out that option for now, choosing instead to focus on an independent campaign.

Party insiders suggest that while lines of communication remain open, the immediate priority is to strengthen the Congress organisation rather than negotiate seat-sharing arrangements. The leadership believes that clarity in strategy is essential ahead of a high-stakes election.

Preparing for a Statewide Contest

With the decision in place, the Congress is expected to begin candidate selection, booth-level planning, and outreach programmes across the state. Leaders have emphasised the need for consistent messaging, local issue-based campaigns, and renewed engagement with voters.

The party’s leadership has conveyed that contesting all 294 seats is not merely a symbolic gesture but part of a broader effort to rebuild credibility and relevance in West Bengal politics. The coming months are likely to see increased activity as the Congress works to translate its strategy into on-ground momentum.

As the political landscape in West Bengal continues to evolve, the Congress’s choice to go solo sets the stage for a distinctly different contest in the upcoming Assembly elections.