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Rahul said during a poll rally that while PM Modi promotes a corporate-friendly agenda in Delhi, Mamata has replicated a similar ‘elite-focused’ governance model in Kolkata
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi greets the gathering during a public meeting in support of the party’s West Bengal president and candidate from Serampore constituency Subhankar Sarkar, ahead of the second phase of the state assembly elections, in Hooghly district, Saturday, April 25, 2026. Pic/PTI
As the high-stakes campaign for the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections reaches a fever pitch, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing dual offensive against both the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing a series of rallies across Hooghly, Kolkata, and South 24 Parganas on Saturday, Gandhi accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of operating in the same ideological vein as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that both leaders prioritise the accumulation of power and the interests of the wealthy over the welfare of the poor.
The ‘Mirror Image’ Accusation
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha did not mince words when drawing parallels between the state and central administrations. Speaking at a massive gathering in Serampore, Gandhi asserted that there was “no difference” between the tactics employed by the TMC in Bengal and those of the BJP at the national level. He argued that while Modi promotes a corporate-friendly agenda in Delhi, Banerjee has replicated a similar “elite-focused” governance model in Kolkata, leaving the state’s marginalised communities behind.
Gandhi specifically highlighted what he termed a lack of central pressure on the Chief Minister. “I have 36 cases against me because I fight the BJP every day; the ED interrogated me for 55 hours and took away my house,” Gandhi told the crowd. “Why hasn’t the same happened to Mamataji? It is because what she does in Bengal, Modiji does in the country. She is effectively clearing the path for the BJP.”
Focus on ‘Rich vs Poor’ Dynamics
Central to Gandhi’s rhetoric was the theme of economic inequality. He accused both leaders of being “controlled” by external or corporate interests—alleging that the Prime Minister’s policies were influenced by international pressures while the TMC had presided over a decade of “industrial decay” in Bengal. He promised that a Congress-led alternative would focus on a “people’s budget”, highlighting his party’s five guarantees, including a Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for women and free cancer treatment at district hospitals.
Strategic Shift in Phase 2
The timing of this attack is critical. Following a record-breaking 92.72% voter turnout in the first phase on April 23, the second phase—scheduled for 29 April—will cover 142 seats, including the crucial urban belts of Kolkata and the North and South 24 Parganas. By positioning the Congress as a distinct third alternative to both the TMC and BJP, Gandhi is attempting to recapture the “middle ground” in a state that has seen a decade of intense bipolar contestation.
April 26, 2026, 00:21 IST
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