KOLKATA — The political temperature in West Bengal reached a boiling point on Wednesday after the Congress party canceled Rahul Gandhi’s high-profile campaign visit to Kolkata, scheduled for April 23. The party has leveled serious allegations against the Mamata Banerjee-led government, claiming the administration deliberately blocked the visit to stifle the opposition.
The cancellation comes just 24 hours before the first phase of the Bengal Assembly elections begins on Thursday.
A Battle Over Logistics
According to party officials, the Lok Sabha MP was slated to lead a massive rally in the city to bolster the Congress-Left alliance. However, the Congress claimed that despite waiting until 6:00 pm on Tuesday, local authorities and police failed to grant the necessary clearances.
“The local administration and police acted on the behest of the state government,” alleged state Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar. He further suggested that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP were “intimidated” by the massive turnouts at Gandhi’s previous rallies in Malda and Murshidabad.
“A fresh request for administrative permission will be submitted for a revised schedule, likely for April 25 or 26,” Congress sources confirmed.
The State’s Defense: “Follow the Portal”
The Trinamool Congress was quick to dismiss the allegations of foul play, citing procedural failures on the part of the Congress. Shashi Panja, Bengal’s Minister for Women and Child Development, noted that all political parties must use the “Suvidha Portal” for permissions, adhering to a strict timeline of two to seven days in advance.
Panja also shifted the focus toward the Election Commission (EC), pointing out that since the state is under a caretaker government during the polls, the EC holds the final authority over administrative decisions.
High Stakes for the Congress-Left Alliance
The upcoming election is a critical litmus test for the Congress. After failing to win a single seat in the 2021 Assembly elections, the party is desperate to break the binary contest between the TMC and the BJP.
| Key Election Details | Information |
| Total Assembly Seats | 294 |
| Current Phase | Phase 1 (April 23) |
| Next Potential Visit | April 29 (Phase 2) |
| Counting Day | May 4, 2026 |
While Gandhi previously addressed rallies in North Dinajpur, Malda, and Murshidabad on April 14, the loss of the Kolkata leg is seen as a significant tactical blow to the party’s momentum in the urban heartland.
As the state gears up for the first phase of polling tomorrow, the war of words over Gandhi’s “missing” rally highlights the deepening rift within the INDIA bloc at the state level, where the Congress-Left alliance continues to challenge the ruling TMC.
