Congress instructs West Bengal unit against TMC alliance

The Congress party has told its leaders in West Bengal to avoid making any alliance with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for now. Instead, they should focus on strengthening the party's presence in the state. This decision came during a meeting led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. During the meeting, leaders emphasized the need to fight against the BJP and those perceived as weakening the Congress in West Bengal. Rahul Gandhi shared on social media after the gathering that the party's goal is to be a strong voice for the people of Bengal. He mentioned the importance of grassroots organization and advocating for people's rights. The Congress leadership's stance comes amid increasing tensions between the Congress and the TMC. There had been speculation about a possible alliance after the removal of former MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as head of the Bengal unit. However, party officials stressed that the current priority is to address the concerns of West Bengal's citizens and provide meaningful representation. Ghulam Mir, the West Bengal in-charge, told reporters that the people are frustrated with both the state and central governments. He highlighted the Congress party's responsibility to address these issues and to be actively involved in advocating for the public's needs.