Deep Debate Within Congress: Should the Party Contest Bengal Elections Alone?

By Hemant Rajoura | New Delhi: The Congress party in West Bengal is once again at a critical crossroads. After years of contesting elections as part of alliances with the Left, the party is signaling a potential break from its past partnerships. The debate within Congress goes beyond seat-sharing or immediate electoral calculations—it reflects a deeper concern for the party’s revival and organizational survival in the state.

A Steep Decline in Vote Share
The Congress-Left alliance has been active in Bengal politics since 2016. The two parted ways during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but reunited for the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, these experiments have largely proved disadvantageous for Congress. The 2021 Assembly elections were a stark example: contesting 92 seats in alliance with the Left, the party failed to win a single seat, with its vote share dropping to just 3 percent.

What Alliances with TMC Have Achieved
Looking back, the picture was very different. In 1996, Congress was the main opposition in Bengal, contesting 288 out of 294 seats and winning 82, with a vote share of 39.48 percent. In 2001, in alliance with Trinamool Congress (TMC), it contested only 60 seats but won 26. Subsequent alliances with TMC and the Left in 2011 and 2016 yielded mixed results, but since then, the party’s influence has steadily declined, culminating in the 2021 debacle.

Congress Flag Rarely Seen on the Ground
A significant section within the party now believes that two decades of reliance on alliances have hollowed it out. In nearly two-thirds of the state’s assembly constituencies, the Congress flag and election symbol have been barely visible for years. Senior leaders argue that to rebuild the organization, attract new workers, and reconnect with voters, Congress may need the courage to contest elections independently—even if it involves short-term losses.

Kerala as a Reference Point
The example of Kerala is instructive. There, Congress leads the UDF and competes directly against the Left Front. The BJP has long criticized Congress for allying with the Left in Bengal while opposing them in Kerala. Following recent local election victories in Kerala, Congress appears cautious about political risk, which also influences its alliance strategy at the national level.

No Talks Yet with I.N.D.I.A. Alliance Partners
Despite being key constituents of the opposition I.N.D.I.A. alliance, Congress and the Left have yet to hold formal discussions about the Bengal Assembly elections. This contrasts sharply with 2021, when both parties announced a joint front in December 2020—a strategy that ultimately failed, with the only seat won going to their junior ally, the Indian Secular Front, rather than either Congress or the Left.

Focus on Ground-Level Strengthening
These experiences have forced Congress to introspect. Party strategists believe that if Congress hopes to regain political relevance in Bengal, it must invest in long-term organizational building, grassroots engagement, and an independent identity. Contesting elections alone may be challenging, but it could be the only viable path to revival.