The Congress party is facing an existential crisis in West Bengal. On one hand, the party’s support base is continuously slipping, on the other, many old allies are reluctant to form an alliance with the Congress. Amidst the possible rift in the alliance of Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, Congress may face a setback on another front. Left and Congress can contest elections separately in West Bengal. Bharatiya Janata Party has already started preparations for the elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also visited West Bengal, Amit Shah has also visited. Mamata Banerjee has entered the election field on the front foot, churning is still going on between Congress and Left parties.
The 2026 assembly elections in West Bengal are now around the corner. Elections can be held between March and April 2026. Election contests are taking place between Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party from the year 2021. Even in the Lok Sabha elections, the main fight is between TMC and BJP. Congress’s representation has been continuously decreasing since 2011.
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What is the compulsion for alliance in West Bengal?
In a direct fight between BJP and TMC, both the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress are becoming weak. There is a lot of speculation about whether or not to form an alliance. The Central Committee of CPI(M) had held a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram in January 2026. Both the parties had said that they can make an electoral pact with Congress to defeat both TMC and BJP in West Bengal. It is a different matter that neither the Congress nor the Left parties are starting any alliance exercise even though there are less than 3 months left for the elections.
Coming together of Left and Congress, why is it necessary for both?
Mamata Banerjee’s cadre base is very strong in West Bengal. BJP has achieved unexpected gains in West Bengal as compared to 2016. The opposition vote will not be scattered only if both Left and Congress together challenge BJP and TMC. Some leaders in West Bengal argue that all the Left fronts and Congress should be united. As of now, it is not clear whether Congress and Left will have any alliance in West Bengal. Congress is not saying yes to this alliance yet.
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What is the condition of Congress in West Bengal? Understand from elections
What is the condition of Congress in the Lok Sabha elections?
- Lok Sabha 2014: The Congress party had to contest the elections alone. Congress fielded its candidates on all 42 Lok Sabha seats. Congress won 4 seats. TMC got 34 seats, CPM and BJP got 2 seats each.
- 2019 Lok Sabha elections: Congress, BJP, Left and TMC contested the elections separately. Trinamool Congress won 22 seats. BJP unexpectedly won from 2 seats to 18 seats. Mamata Banerjee’s support base decreased. Congress got only 2 seats. Left account not opened.
- 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Trinamool Congress fielded candidates on all 42 seats. There were 29 seats. BJP got only 12 seats. Congress could win only one seat, even Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary could not save his seat.
What is the condition of Congress in the assembly elections?
Neither the Lok Sabha nor the Assembly elections have seen good days for the Congress in West Bengal. The alliance of Congress with the Left Front in the years 2011, 2016 and 2022 could not do any wonders. Trinamool Congress (TMC) won all the elections, while Congress and its allies lost badly.
- Assembly elections 2011: Congress and TMC had contested the elections together in alliance. TMC had won 184 seats. Congress had won 42 seats. CPM had won 40 seats. All India Forward Bloc won 11 seats, Revolutionary Socialist Party won 7 seats. Two independents and 8 other candidates won. Left rule came to an end in West Bengal.
- Assembly 2016: Congress had formed an alliance with the Left Front. Contested on 92 seats and won 44 seats. TMC gets 211 seats, Left gets 32. In this election, BJP got only 3 seats but in the Lok Sabha elections to be held after 3 years, BJP got the freedom to campaign vigorously. The results of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were shocking for the BJP in West Bengal as well.
- Assembly 2021: Congress fought under the leadership of the United Front along with the Left Front and the Indian Secular Front. The party fielded candidates on 92 seats but could not win a single seat. TMC got 213 seats, BJP 77. Congress did not get any benefit in West Bengal even with or without the alliance.
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What was achieved even after the alliance?
In the year 2021, there was an alliance between Left and Congress. Both the parties together could not win even a single seat. Congress chief in West Bengal Subhankar Sarkar also believes that it is better to fight alone, so that the party becomes in a stronger position. Former president Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary has also been advocating the same. There is also a fact that if both the parties fight separately then the dispersion of votes will be more in front of two strong parties, BJP may benefit. TMC is in no mood to join hands with anyone, Mamata Banerjee is winning with a huge majority.
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What is the problem with Congress going with the Left?
Assembly elections will be held in Kerala in April-May 2026. Elections will also be held in West Bengal at the same time. In Kerala, CPI(M)’s LDF government is in power and Congress’s UDF is in opposition. Both are fighting directly against each other. If there is an alliance in Bengal, it may have an impact in Kerala. Both the parties will also attack each other politically, BJP and other opposition parties will also get an issue.
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