Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday mounted a fierce attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress, accusing it of corruption, governance failures,
and "paving the way" for the BJP in West Bengal. Addressing a rally in Raiganj, Malda, Gandhi alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government was complicit in enabling the BJP's rise in the state. "BJP is trying to steal votes in Bengal, and TMC is paving the way for them," he said. Accusing both the BJP and TMC of corruption, Gandhi said, "Modi is corrupt anyway, but TMC is not lagging behind in the race of corruption either," before listing major financial scandals. Gandhi mentioned the Saradha chit fund scam, alleging that ₹1,900 crore belonging to 17 lakh investors remains unpaid, and the Rose Valley scam involving ₹6,600 crore and 31 lakh investors. He further accused the ruling party of benefiting from coal smuggling, illegal mining and a "syndicate raj".
Targeting the TMC's governance record, Gandhi said the party had failed to deliver on its 2021 poll promise of providing five lakh jobs. "On one hand, TMC says it will provide employment to five lakh people. On the other hand, 84 lakh youth are demanding unemployment allowance. In other words, the people of West Bengal are being taken for a ride,” he said.
Gandhi also raised concerns over law and order in the state. Referring to the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, he said, "TMC goons do whatever they want," adding further, "BJP and TMC leaders resort to violence, but Congress is against violence."
The Raiganj rally signals Congress's attempt to reclaim political space in West Bengal by directly challenging the TMC's governance and corruption record, while positioning itself as an alternative to both the ruling party in the state and the BJP at the Centre.
