The Congress has decided to independently contest all 294 assembly seats in West Bengal while the CPI(M)-led Left Front is forging new regional ties
For the first time in a decade, the Left-Congress alliance – formed in 2016 – will no longer stand united as West Bengal goes to polls on April 23 and 29, 2026. (Image: PTI/File)
For the first time in a decade, the Left-Congress alliance – formed in 2016 – will no longer stand united as West Bengal goes to polls on April 23 and 29.
Both the Left Front and Congress have decided to go it alone in Bengal’s political landscape, long defined by its fierce ideological battles and entrenched loyalties.
But that does not mean the two will not impact an increasingly bipolar contest shaping up between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP, in the run-up to the assembly election. They will play an important role in the traditional arithmetic of power, where they may turn into kingmakers from spoilers.
The Congress has decided to independently contest all 294 assembly seats while the CPI(M)-led Left Front is forging new regional ties.
WHY DID THE ALLIANCE END?
The formal dissolution of the Left-Congress alliance took place in February, when the Congress announced its intention to go solo across Bengal.
This move represents a strategic pivot intended to reclaim an identity that many experts said had been swallowed by the increasingly bipolar struggle between the TMC and BJP. During the 2021 “wave” election, the Congress and Left were famously reduced to near-zero representation in the assembly, so by contesting every seat in 2026, the grand old party is hopeful of rebuilding its withered organisational roots from the ground up.
The Left Front, led by the CPI(M), has moved toward what it terms a “third front” strategy. Rather than clinging to the Congress, it has sought new partnerships with regional groups such as the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP).
Party leader Md Salim has remained steadfast, saying the decision of the Congress to strike out alone will not negatively impact the Left’s own prospects.
‘SPOILER’ VOTES?
This fragmentation of the opposition introduces a volatile “spoiler” effect that could inadvertently assist either of the two dominant powers – TMC and BJP.
The impact of this split may be felt in two distinct ways. In a state that has become increasingly bipolar, the primary risk for the BJP is that a divided opposition prevents the consolidation of the “anti-TMC” vote.
According to historical data, when the Left and Congress fight separately, they can pull between 5 and 8 percent of the vote in key constituencies. Even this modest share could be enough to prevent the BJP from capturing the disgruntled rural and semi-urban voters it needs, potentially allowing TMC candidates to scrape through with lower victory margins.
Perhaps more dangerously for the TMC, its long-standing reliance on a consolidated minority vote – estimated at roughly 30 percent of the state – is under direct threat. With the Left-ISF combine attacking from one flank and a solo Congress (traditionally strong in the minority-heavy districts of Malda and Murshidabad) from the other, this crucial voting bloc is now split three or four ways.
Any significant shift of these voters away from the TMC could “spoil” the ruling party’s chances in over 60 to 70 high-stakes seats.
WHAT IS THE CONGRESS STRATEGY?
The Congress’s determination to re-establish itself is evident in its candidate selection. Only recently, it released a comprehensive list of 284 candidates, including heavyweights such as former state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur and Mausam Noor, a former TMC MP who recently rejoined the Congress, from Malatipur.
The strategy is clear: field candidates with deep local connections to rejuvenate its infrastructure. Senior state Congress leader Suman Roy Chaudhuri, nominated for the Manicktala seat, stressed this focus on the grassroots.
“The party has carefully selected candidates with strong organisational roots… I will work with all to build up infrastructure in the area for the future,” Chaudhuri said.
This focus on local strength extends to prestigious seats like Bhabanipur, where South Kolkata district president Pradip Prasad has been fielded to take on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. By fielding Prasad, whom the party describes as having worked “at the grassroots in South Kolkata for years”, the Congress aims to signal that it is no longer a junior partner but a serious, independent contender.
‘SILENT’ PACT?
Despite the Congress and the Left Front going their separate ways, there is much speculation over a “silent” or “tactical” understanding between the two.
Experts pointed to the possibility of a “non-compete” arrangement in specific strongholds. For instance, in districts like Malda and Murshidabad, there is speculation that the Left may field “weaker” candidates to ensure that the anti-TMC and anti-BJP votes are not so diluted as to hand a victory to the ruling party.
This “enemy’s enemy” logic suggests that while the parties are officially at loggerheads, they may “pull their punches” in certain constituencies to prevent a total sweep by the TMC or BJP. However, the official candidate lists show both parties contesting almost every seat meaning any such deal will only be visible on the ground.
TOWARDS BEING ‘KINGMAKERS’?
Ultimately, the goal for both the Left Front and Congress is to transcend the role of “spoiler” and emerge as “kingmakers”.
Opinion polls suggest that the TMC maintains a slight edge, but the fragmented opposition makes the final seat conversion unpredictable in at least 90 constituencies. If neither the TMC nor BJP crosses the 148-seat majority mark, the small blocs held by the Left Front or the Congress – even if they only manage five to 10 seats each – will hold the balance of power.
In such a “hung assembly” scenario, many believe the Left and Congress will immediately reunite to either extract major concessions from the TMC or to prevent the BJP from forming a government.
April 01, 2026, 20:58 IST
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