Bengal Congress faces crisis: Divisions over alliances, revival efforts

Kolkata

The Congress in West Bengal is facing an existential crisis as it struggles to regain political relevance. With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, the party remains divided into three factions: one favoring an alliance with the TMC, another preferring to continue its partnership with the Left Front, and a third advocating for an independent contest to rebuild its base.

Congress’s decline has been marked by leader defections to the TMC and BJP, alongside internal conflicts. Once a dominant force, the party’s vote share has plummeted from 14% in 2011 to just 3% in 2021, and it currently holds no seats in the Assembly. Some leaders argue past alliances have weakened Congress, particularly its tie-ups with the TMC in 2011 and the Left in 2016, which prioritized seat-sharing over grassroots revival.

Former state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya supports continuing the Left alliance, citing its electoral benefits, while other leaders see the TMC as a more viable partner. State Congress president Shuvankar Sarkar, however, emphasizes strengthening the party before making alliance decisions, arguing past partnerships benefited allies more than Congress.

Despite the party's internal divisions, leaders agree on countering the communal polarization created by the BJP and TMC. The Congress now faces a critical decision—whether to align with the TMC for political relevance or persist with the Left, despite electoral uncertainties.