A big meeting was held at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the West Bengal Assembly elections. Many leaders including Rahul Gandhi participated in it. In this meeting which lasted for about 2 hours, Congress has decided to contest the elections alone.

Congress will contest elections alone in West Bengal

Big leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Bengal Congress President Subhankar Sarkar and General Secretary in-charge Ghulam Mohammad Mir were present in the meeting held at Mallikarjun Kharge’s house on 5 February 2026. It was decided in this meeting that Congress will contest alone on 294 seats in Bengal.

In the 2016 and 2021 elections, Congress had formed an alliance with the Left parties, but this time Congress has not shown any interest. The recent decision of Congress seems to indicate that the party is in no mood to form an alliance. Earlier there was speculation that like in 2011, Congress would form an alliance with TMC. But Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary has made it clear that the decision of the high command has been taken after careful consideration, we all are with this decision.

Mamta Banerjee had also announced to contest the elections alone.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also announced to contest the elections alone. Mamta had said, ‘Trinamool Congress (TMC) contests elections alone in Bengal. All other parties contest elections against TMC. Let them fight. It doesn’t help anything.

Very poor performance of Congress in Bengal elections

In the last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the condition of Congress was very bad in West Bengal. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress got only one seat from Bengal. Congress could not open its account in the 2021 assembly elections. The Left Party also did not get a single seat. Talking about the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress could get only 2 seats. However, in 2016, Congress and Left Front contested elections together for the first time, when Congress won 44 seats and CPI(M) got 26 seats.