Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 14: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress during his first campaign rally in Raiganj ahead of the state Assembly elections.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha accused the TMC of indirectly strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state, alleging that the ruling party’s governance failures were creating space for the BJP’s growth.

Gandhi claimed that despite central fund cuts and stalled welfare schemes such as MGNREGA, the BJP was not financially supporting West Bengal, while blaming the TMC for misgovernance. He also alleged that both national and state-level politics had failed Bengal, though for different reasons.

Launching a broader attack on corruption, he referred to past scandals such as the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund cases, as well as allegations involving coal smuggling, illegal mining, and what he described as a “syndicate system” and “goon tax” affecting transport and trade sectors.

He further alleged that corruption benefits only a small network within the ruling party, while ordinary citizens see little development. According to him, promises of large-scale job creation made in 2021 had not materialised, pointing to rising unemployment applications as evidence of economic distress in the state.

Raising concerns about governance and law and order, Gandhi referred to incidents of political violence, including the RG Kar Hospital incident and the killing of Congress worker Tapan Kundu, alleging a lack of accountability and unchecked violence in the state.

He also accused both the TMC and BJP of engaging in politics of violence, while asserting that the Congress stands for unity and rejects divisive narratives based on religion or language.

Gandhi is scheduled to address additional rallies in West Bengal as part of his ongoing campaign for the upcoming elections.