Escalating tensions between the Left Front and Congress in West Bengal highlight uncertainty over a pre-poll alliance ahead of Assembly elections, raising questions about Opposition unity, political survival, and strategic choices against Trinamool Congress and BJP.
As the West Bengal Assembly elections draw closer, an increasingly public exchange of sharp words between the Left Front and the Congress has reignited speculation about whether the two former allies will once again come together—or drift further apart—before the polls are announced. The verbal sparring suggests growing unease and strategic confusion within the Opposition camp, which continues to search for a viable alternative to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
At the heart of the tension lies Congress’s apparent indecision over forging another electoral alliance with the Left Front. While both parties share a long political history in West Bengal, recent experiences have left them politically marginalised. Despite this, leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) believe that a united front remains the only realistic path to political revival in the state.
CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Salim has been particularly vocal, repeatedly stressing the need for a strong, grassroots-based Left-Congress alliance. His statements, while framed as appeals for unity, have also carried pointed criticism of Congress’s reluctance to commit to a clear position. Salim has simultaneously targeted the Trinamool Congress, accusing it of consolidating power while eroding democratic institutions in the state.
Salim’s public calls for urgency appear to have struck a nerve within the Congress leadership. In a sharp rebuttal, a senior Congress leader from West Bengal took to social media to dismiss what was described as unnecessary interference. The leader asserted that Congress would decide its political course independently and at an appropriate time, emphasising accountability to voters rather than to potential allies.
Such exchanges have further clouded the prospects of a renewed alliance. Previous attempts at cooperation between the two parties have failed to deliver electoral success. At present, neither the Left nor the Congress holds a single seat in the West Bengal Assembly, while Congress has managed to secure only one Lok Sabha seat from the state. These outcomes have raised serious questions about whether an alliance alone can reverse their declining fortunes.
The uncertainty in West Bengal also echoes deeper historical tensions at the national level. The CPI(M)’s relationship with Congress has often been fraught, particularly following the events surrounding the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in the mid-2000s. After the 2004 general elections produced a hung Parliament, the Left emerged as a crucial supporter of the Congress, helping keep the BJP out of power. With 60 Lok Sabha seats, the Left exercised considerable influence during that period.
However, the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in 2008 proved to be a breaking point. Viewing the deal as a departure from India’s non-aligned and anti-imperialist stance, the Left withdrew support from the UPA government, triggering a confidence vote in Parliament. Although the Congress survived the vote with the backing of new allies, the decision significantly weakened the Left’s national leverage.
The political fallout was swift. In the 2009 general elections, the Left’s parliamentary strength dropped sharply, marking the beginning of a prolonged decline. Internal divisions also surfaced, particularly between leaders from West Bengal and Kerala, who differed sharply on whether maintaining ties with Congress served regional interests.
| Also Read: Assam Rifles repel insurgent attack near India–Myanmar Border |
Today, the Left faces a changed political reality. Having already lost power in West Bengal and Tripura, and with its position in Kerala facing serious challenges, the party finds itself with limited strategic options. For the Congress, the dilemma is equally complex: whether aligning with a weakened Left helps rebuild relevance or risks further alienating voters seeking a decisive alternative.
As election timelines approach, the continuing war of words suggests that clarity remains elusive. Whether pragmatism will prevail over past grievances—or whether the rift will deepen—could significantly shape the Opposition landscape in West Bengal’s next electoral battle.
