NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday cautioned party colleagues and other opposition leaders against celebrating the Trinamool Congress's defeat in West Bengal, framing the election outcome as a larger threat to Indian democracy.
Without taking names, Rahul Gandhi said, "Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about TMC's loss. They need to understand this clearly: the theft of Assam and Bengal's mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy."
He urged political parties to move beyond electoral rivalries, adding, "Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India."
Context of the Remarks
The Congress leader's remarks come a day after the BJP's sweeping victory in West Bengal, where the party crossed the majority mark, ending the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress. Rahul Gandhi's reference to "theft of mandate" appeared to echo allegations raised by Mamata Banerjee, who claimed that "more than 100 seats were stolen" in the state, a charge the BJP has dismissed.
Congress Performance and Allegations
The Congress, which has had limited electoral presence in West Bengal in recent years, managed to win two seats in the 2026 assembly elections. Earlier, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP "looted" more than 100 seats and termed the Election Commission "the BJP's commission," calling the victory "immoral" and "illegal."
The BJP is set to form its first government in West Bengal with a landslide victory, winning 206 seats in the 294-member assembly. Repolling in the Falta constituency will be conducted on May 21.
Rahul Gandhi's warning underscores the broader concerns among opposition parties about the integrity of electoral processes in India, as the BJP continues to expand its footprint across states.
