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Infighting, strain with allies to senior leaders’ comments: A look at the Congress’s poll position, alliances in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Bengal
Rahul Gandhi with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge (right). (PTI File)
Be it the strain with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over power-sharing or Assam senior leader’s resignation or even the war of words involving Mani Shankar Aiyar in Kerala, the Congress seems to be a divided house in four poll-bound states.
Pradip Bhandari, Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson, wrote on X: “Loyalists who spent entire life time in Congress; now openly speaking against Rahul Gandhi! When your own leaders do not believe in your leadership; imagine the state of your party. Mani Shankar Iyer-“I am a Rajivian not a Rahulian” Congress vs Rahul Gandhi! Congress rejects Rahul Gandhi!”
A look at the party’s poll position, alliances in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Bengal.
Complete rejection of Rahul Gandhi by Congress leaders!Rahul Gandhi is openly rejected by Mani Shankar Iyer who is a staunch Congress loyalist.
Iyer or TMC or Bhupen Borah; Everyone Know
RAHUL GANDHI IS A POLITICAL “PAPPU” pic.twitter.com/28xdsg6hO3
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) February 16, 2026
KERALA: THE MS AIYAR ROW
In a move that has left the party red-faced, senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday predicted that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will retain power for a third consecutive time in the upcoming Assembly polls. He also praised the ruling LDF government’s panchayati raj model. The Congress was quick to distance itself from Aiyar’s remarks, saying they were made in a personal capacity. The Congress-led UDF, the principal opposition, is fighting against Pinarayi Vijayan and his party to come back to power.
“So in the presence of the Chief Minister, who I’m sure will be the next Chief Minister, I renew my plea to reinforce Kerala as the best Panchayati Raj state in the country,” Aiyar said, speaking at the international seminar titled Vision 2031 International Conference on Democracy and Development.
On X, Vijayan wrote, “The charismatic words of Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar during the #Vision2031 International Conference resonate well with the contemporary scenario. We stand united in the belief that democracy only flourishes when power resides with the people. We will continue to strengthen our local bodies as the heartbeat of growth.”
Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh, reacted to his remarks. Khera said, “Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has had no connection whatsoever with the Congress for the past few years. He speaks and writes purely in his personal capacity.” Ramesh asserted that Kerala would bring the Congress-led UDF back to power by removing the Left Front.
“I want the Congress to win, but I don’t believe it will. Congress leaders hate each other more than they hate the Communists,” Aiyar said in reply. Aiyar also took aim at four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, alleging that the senior leader harbours ambitions of becoming the next foreign minister.
ASSAM: BHUPEN KUMAR BORAH RESIGNS
In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Assam, former state unit chief Bhupen Kumar Borah has resigned, according to sources. Borah is learnt to have blamed Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s “highhandedness” for his decision. The development comes just days before Priyanka Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Assam.
Sources said Borah sent his resignation letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He also wrote to Rahul Gandhi. In his letter, Borah said he was being ignored by the party leadership and was not given his due in the state unit. He said he had informed the high command about how the party was functioning in the state and that the situation had affected his self-esteem and dignity.
After his resignation, Borah said, “I sent my resignation to the Congress High Command at 8 am this morning and explained in detail why I was compelled to take this stand. This is not a personal decision. I have given 32 years to the party and joined it in 1994. This principle is not merely personal; it is driven by concern for the party’s future. That is why I conveyed everything in detail to the Congress High Command.” Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi has reached Bhupen Borah’s house after the latter tendered his resignation.
TAMIL NADU: POWER TUSSLE WITH DMK
The rift within the Congress-DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu is out in the open, with power-sharing a major bone of contention.
Congress leaders are seen clashing with the ruling DMK, and even backing a tie-up with actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party TVK. Congress MP Manickam Tagore has warned of retaliation if Congress is sidelined, while DMK leaders have hit back sharply.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has categorically ruled out power-sharing, signalling tension in the alliance.
Amid this backdrop, Vijay and TVK have been hinted they are open to cooperation against common opponents. Reports claim even the Congress is looking for more “options”.
BENGAL: WILL THEY ALLY WITH TMC?
TMC leader Mamata Banerjee has ruled out any formal pre-poll tie-up with Congress in the 2026 Bengal polls, saying her party will fight alone. This view has been reaffirmed by key TMC leaders, reflecting TMC’s long tradition of contesting state elections independently.
Separately, the Congress high command recently decided that the party will contest all 294 assembly seats in West Bengal on its own, breaking from past coalition patterns.
At the national level, both Congress and TMC are part of the broader INDIA alliance (a coalition of opposition parties). But that national grouping has not translated into a formal electoral alliance in Bengal for the state assembly polls.
With Agency Inputs
February 16, 2026, 13:53 IST
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