Congress Reviews Bengal Strategy Ahead of Upcoming Elections
Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal on Tuesday said the party has begun preparing for the next political battles in West Bengal, including upcoming bypolls and civic body elections, while asserting that the INDIA alliance continues to remain united in its fight against the BJP and the RSS.
Speaking after a two-day organisational review meeting in Kolkata, Venugopal said the Congress had assessed its post-Assembly election performance and discussed plans to strengthen the party’s presence across the state.
‘BJP Government in Bengal Will Be No Different’
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Venugopal claimed that if the party comes to power in West Bengal, its style of governance would mirror BJP-ruled states elsewhere.
He said, “A BJP government in West Bengal would be no different from BJP-ruled states elsewhere and would be equally aggressive.”
He also accused the BJP of acting against the Constitution and targeting the livelihood of ordinary citizens.
“They do not believe in the Constitution. They want to destroy the livelihood of the common people. That is why they have started evicting hawkers. The Congress will stand with the poor and continue its fight against the BJP,” Venugopal said.
INDIA Bloc Still United, Says Congress Leader
Responding to criticism over differences among opposition parties, Venugopal maintained that the INDIA alliance remains united on national issues despite electoral contests between alliance partners in different states.
He said, “In Kerala, we are fighting the CPI(M). In Punjab, we are fighting the AAP. But when the BJP and the RSS are attacking pluralism, democracy and constitutional rights, we are united in opposing them. That is the purpose of the INDIA bloc.”
According to him, decisions regarding possible electoral alliances in West Bengal will be taken after assessing the political situation in the state.
Fresh Allegations Against BJP
Venugopal further alleged that the BJP was attempting to influence various aspects of public life through its policies.
He said, “Not providing eggs in the mid-day meal scheme shows that the BJP wants to decide what students should eat. It wants to impose its dominance everywhere. It is pushing for the Uniform Civil Code and introducing laws in legislatures with the real intention of suppressing dissent.”
Referring to the reported Ram Temple donation theft case, he also alleged, “The RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad are involved in the incident. Why is the BJP silent?”
Congress Reviews Organisational Strength
The review meetings were attended by Congress candidates who contested the recent Assembly elections along with senior party leaders, including members of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.
Discussions focused on strengthening the party’s organisational structure, preparing for upcoming elections and framing its political strategy in the state.
Meanwhile, state Congress spokesperson Suman Roy Chowdhury said the party has received permission from Army authorities to hold its proposed “Chalo Shaheed Minar” programme in Kolkata on July 21.
The meetings concluded with the Congress leadership reiterating its commitment to strengthening the organisation in West Bengal while continuing its political campaign against the BJP at both the state and national levels.
