Congress Breaks Alliance With Left, To Contest All 294 Seats In Bengal

The Indian National Congress has declared that it will contest all 294 seats in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal assembly elections without any alliance, breaking away from its long-standing partnership with the Left Front. The announcement was made after a high-level meeting in New Delhi attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and senior state leaders.  

Party leaders emphasized that the alliance with the Left had failed to energize workers at the grassroots level, particularly after the poor performance in the 2021 elections where Congress failed to secure a single seat. The move sets the stage for a four-cornered contest involving the Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Left Front, and Congress.  

Key highlights from the announcement include  

• Congress to contest all 294 seats independently in 2026  
• Alliance with Left Front officially ended after a decade  
• Decision taken collectively by top leadership in New Delhi  
• Move aimed at boosting morale of grassroots workers  
• Sets up a four-cornered electoral battle in West Bengal  

Analysts note that the decision reflects Congress’s attempt to rebuild its base in Bengal and reposition itself as a standalone force in the state’s complex political arena.  

Sources: Times of India, Swarajya, India TV