Kiren Rijiju Critiques Rahul Gandhi's Comments on West Bengal Politics
In a recent session of the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju took aim at Rahul Gandhi's remarks about West Bengal's political landscape. Gandhi accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of enabling the BJP's rise through polarization, while Rijiju pointed out the inconsistencies in Gandhi's statements. He emphasized that Gandhi's predictions of a Congress victory contradict his criticisms of the TMC. Meanwhile, Amit Shah has forecasted a strong performance for the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections, citing high voter turnout as a sign of public support for Modi's leadership. This article delves into the political dynamics at play in West Bengal as the elections approach.
| Apr 24, 2026, 14:33 IST
Kiren Rijiju Responds to Rahul Gandhi's Accusations
On April 24, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. This came after Gandhi accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of polarizing the state and enabling the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to gain an advantage. Rijiju pointed out contradictions in Gandhi's statements, noting that while Gandhi predicts a Congress victory in West Bengal, he simultaneously criticizes the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for allowing the BJP to strengthen its position.
Rijiju expressed his astonishment, stating, 'On one hand, Rahul Gandhi claims that only Congress can defeat the BJP in West Bengal, yet on the other hand, he suggests that the BJP will win due to TMC's polarizing politics!' Recently, while campaigning for Congress, Gandhi mentioned that if Mamata Banerjee had maintained a clean government and avoided polarization, the BJP would have found it impossible to establish a foothold in Bengal. He asserted that the Congress party would fight against the BJP and could defeat them.
Previously, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had predicted a significant victory for the BJP in the West Bengal assembly elections, citing an internal assessment that suggested the party could secure over 110 out of the 152 seats contested in the first phase. During a press conference, Shah stated that the record voter turnout of over 90 percent reflects public support for 'development' under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, indicating the end of Mamata Banerjee's influence in West Bengal.
He added that the BJP's Bengal team has completed its assessment, and based on this, he is confident that the party will win more than 110 seats. Considering the upcoming second phase of voting, the BJP is prepared to form the government in Bengal. According to the Election Commission of India, the voting for the first phase of the West Bengal assembly elections concluded on April 23 at 6 PM, recording a turnout of 91.83 percent. This high turnout highlighted a robust electoral process conducted under tight security.