Rahul Gandhi's Comeback: Election Rallies in West Bengal Amid Controversy

Rahul Gandhi is poised to address election rallies in West Bengal this Saturday, following a brief setback due to denied permissions. With events scheduled in Kolkata and Serampore, tensions between the Congress party and the ruling Trinamool Congress have escalated. Gandhi's campaign is gaining momentum as he criticizes both the Trinamool and the BJP, linking their rise to governance failures. The political atmosphere in West Bengal is charged as multiple parties vie for influence ahead of the elections. Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding political drama.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 25, 2026, 10:40 IST

Rahul Gandhi's Election Campaign Resumes in West Bengal

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is gearing up to hold election rallies in West Bengal this Saturday, with events planned in Kolkata and Serampore. This comes after an earlier hiccup when permissions for these gatherings were initially denied.

The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha faced disruptions in his campaign schedule, which has now been adjusted with new dates.

Originally set for April 23, the rallies in Kolkata and Serampore were called off due to a lack of police authorization.

This situation sparked significant political backlash, with Congress accusing the state government of bias and interference.

The party claimed that the refusal of permission was influenced by the ruling Trinamool Congress, heightening tensions among opposition parties in the region. Fortunately, the issue was resolved quickly, and by April 22, authorities had granted the necessary permissions, allowing the rallies to be rescheduled for April 25.

As per the updated itinerary, LoP Gandhi will address a significant public gathering at Shahid Minar Maidan in Kolkata around 2:30 PM today. This venue is historically significant for political mobilizations in the city.

After the Kolkata rally, Gandhi will head to Serampore in the Hooghly district to conduct another important election rally later in the day.

Previously, Congress leaders had vocally criticized the initial denial of permission, viewing it as an attempt by the state government to stifle opposition campaigning. This incident briefly intensified the already heated political climate in West Bengal, where various parties are competing for dominance ahead of the ongoing elections.

In a recent statement, LoP Gandhi intensified his criticism of both the ruling Trinamool and the BJP, asserting that the BJP's growth in West Bengal is a direct result of governance failures under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

He remarked, "If Mamata Banerjee had maintained a transparent government and avoided polarizing Bengal, the BJP would not have gained traction," as the first phase of elections took place on April 23, with the second phase scheduled for April 29.