Kicking off his campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), blaming the state government for the saffron party’s rise in Bengal.

Addressing a public rally in Raiganj, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged that flawed governance and corruption under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had enabled the BJP to gain a foothold in the state.

“Mamata herself is responsible for the BJP’s rise in Bengal,” Gandhi said.

Targets Centre over ‘Adani’ issue

Turning his focus to the Centre, Gandhi renewed his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising concerns over alleged corporate influence on the country’s economy.

He claimed that economic power was being concentrated in the hands of a select corporate group, remarking that “India has been sold out,” and coining the term “Modani” to suggest a nexus between the government and business interests.

Gandhi also alleged that the Prime Minister avoids direct engagement with him in Parliament.

Blames TMC for industrial decline

Stepping up his criticism of the state government, Gandhi accused the TMC of crippling Bengal’s industrial sector and failing to deliver on employment promises.

He claimed that while the government had promised five lakh jobs, millions of people were now struggling and dependent on allowances. He further argued that better governance and an end to political violence could have prevented the BJP’s expansion in the state.

Invokes Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi’s legacy

Seeking to strike an emotional chord in North Bengal, Gandhi invoked the legacy of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, a prominent Congress leader from the region.

Highlighting Dasmunsi’s contributions to the development of Raiganj and Kaliaganj, Gandhi asserted that the Congress had historically been the driving force behind development in North Bengal.

“If Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi were alive today, Bengal would have a Congress government, and he would be the Chief Minister,” he said.

Jibe at PM’s Bengal visit, criticism of RSS-BJP ideology

Gandhi also took a swipe at the Prime Minister’s recent rallies in the state, claiming that Modi appeared to have “lost his steam.” He further alleged that attempts were made to silence him in Parliament but were unsuccessful.

In a broader political attack, Gandhi warned that the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP was undermining the Constitution.

With campaigning intensifying ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, Gandhi’s remarks signal an aggressive push by the Congress to reassert its presence in West Bengal’s evolving political landscape.

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