Rahul Gandhi Calls BJP's Bengal, Assam Wins 'Mandate Theft,' Urges Unity
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Tuesday labeled the BJP's victories in the West Bengal and Assam assembly elections as a 'theft' of the people's mandate, claiming they marked a major advance in the party's effort to undermine Indian democracy. He urged Congress leaders who were celebrating the Trinamool Congress's defeat to 'put petty politics aside,' saying the issue transcends individual parties and concerns the future of India's democratic institutions. The BJP won 206 seats in West Bengal, unseating the TMC, and secured a third consecutive term in Assam.
Gandhi made the remarks in a series of posts on X, asserting that over 100 seats were 'stolen' in Bengal with the support of the Election Commission, citing previous instances like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as part of a repeated pattern. He referenced the slogan 'Chunav chori, sanstha chori -- ab aur chara hi kya hai' to underscore his claim of systemic electoral manipulation. Earlier on Monday, Gandhi spoke with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, according to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who also said Gandhi had congratulated the president of the TMC's ally, the TVK.
In contrast, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged the BJP's organizational strength, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their campaign performance in Bengal and Assam. Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said the BJP was 'professionally organised,' deployed significant resources, and ran effective election operations—elements from which others could learn. He added that he hoped the government's message would promote national unity rather than division.
The Congress party had contested the West Bengal elections independently, facing both the BJP and the TMC. Internal party discussions are expected in the coming days to assess electoral strategy ahead of future state polls. The Congress leadership will review its performance in the recently concluded assembly elections at a central coordination meeting scheduled for next week.