Congress to Fight West Bengal Polls Alone, Contest All 294 Seats
In a significant strategic shift ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the Indian National Congress has decided to contest all 294 assembly seats independently, ruling out formal alliances with any political party.
The Congress leadership finalised the decision at a high-level meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, and senior state leaders. Party sources said the move reflects years of introspection and a desire to rebuild the organisation’s identity in the state.
Senior leaders noted that past tie-ups — notably with the Left Front — had demoralised grassroots workers and diluted the party’s independent appeal. The Congress contested previous polls in alliances but failed to secure significant wins — including in the 2021 Assembly elections where it did not win a single seat.
By opting to go solo, the party leadership aims to re-energise its cadre base and present its own agenda directly to voters. The move also underscores mounting differences with both the Left and the ruling Trinamool Congress, neither of which will be formal partners this time.
Political analysts believe this decision introduces a more fragmented contest in West Bengal, pitting the Congress directly against the BJP, TMC, and Left — potentially reshaping the electoral landscape. The state is likely to go to the polls between April and May 2026.
This bold strategy signals the Congress’s intent to strengthen its footprint in one of India’s most politically dynamic states after decades of alliance-based campaigning.
