New Delhi, April 25: Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent criticism of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, labeling it as a “late realization.” Shah made these remarks in the Lok Sabha, addressing Gandhi’s comments about the Congress party’s role in the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
“This realization has come very late,” Shah stated while speaking from Kolkata. His comments were in response to a video message from Rahul Gandhi shared on social media platform ‘X.’
In the 106-second video clip posted on Thursday, Gandhi criticized the policies and governance of the BJP and urged voters in West Bengal to support Congress.
He remarked, “If Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had run a clean government and not polarized Bengal, the BJP would not have had a chance.”
The political dynamics between Congress and TMC in West Bengal have significantly changed over the past few years. Congress was the party that supported TMC when it came to power in 2011.
However, since then, the relationship between the two parties has fluctuated, influenced by changing alliances and electoral strategies.
In 2024, Congress removed Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the state committee president known for his vocal criticism of Mamata Banerjee. After losing the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat, he resigned from his position; he had represented this seat five consecutive times from 1999 to 2019.
Chowdhury also served as a Congress leader in the 17th Lok Sabha, but the party lacked the numbers to officially recognize him as the leader of the opposition. He was among those in West Bengal advocating for an alliance with the Left Front to challenge TMC, which was once their main rival.
Congress and the Left Front fought together in the 2016 and 2021 assembly elections but failed to unseat TMC, which retained power with an even stronger mandate.
Historically, TMC distanced itself from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after electoral setbacks in 2006. In 2009, when the Left Front withdrew its support from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, TMC allied with Congress for the Lok Sabha elections.
This alliance proved successful in the 2011 West Bengal assembly elections, ending the Left Front’s 34-year rule. However, Congress and TMC parted ways in 2013, leading Congress to ally with the Left Front in the state.
In the 2021 assembly elections, both Congress and the Left Front failed to win any seats, marking a significant decline in their electoral presence.
Following defeats in the assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where Congress managed to win only one seat in Malda out of 42 in West Bengal, the party underwent a leadership change in the state unit. Subhankar Sarkar, viewed as a relatively softer face, replaced Chowdhury.
During his tenure, Congress distanced itself from attempts to re-alliance with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), resulting in a competitive landscape among various parties in the state. This division of opposition votes altered the electoral equations, indirectly impacting the balance between BJP and TMC.
In this context, Shah’s comments highlighted Rahul Gandhi’s recent criticism of TMC as “late” and underscored the complex and evolving political equations in West Bengal.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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