NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday launched a broadside against the TMC-led West Bengal government after permission for Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Kolkata was denied ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections.Party sources told news agency ANI that the local administration — specifically the police — is acting at the behest of the Mamata government. The party added that it waited until 6.00 pm, but as permission was not granted, it is no longer possible to make preparations for the event.“A fresh request for administrative permission will be submitted for a revised schedule, likely for either April 25 or 26,” party sources added.West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar said the Trinamool and the BJP were “rattled” by rallies Rahul Gandhi held in Malda and Murshidabad.“Seeing the massive crowds thronging the public meetings of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has left the Mamata Banerjee government and the BJP so rattled that now even permission for venues for their rallies is being denied,” Sarkar said.In a social media post on X, Congress said that denying Rahul’s visit is “pure insecurity masked as administration.”“Bengal is not Mamata Banerjee’s or TMC’s private estate! Denying Rahul Gandhi’s campaign visit is pure political insecurity masked as administration,” Congress said.“If your mandate is so strong, why fear a public meeting? Bengal deserves real democracy, not police-controlled politics,” it added.Meanwhile, West Bengal minister Shashi Panja pointed out that the model code of conduct is in place in the state and a caretaker government cannot answer for the cancellation of Rahul’s visit.“Application for public meetings needs to be sent through the Suvidha Portal. Permission is granted through there. It needs to be done 2–7 days before the public meeting. This rule applies to all public meetings,” Panja said.“This rule applies to all public meetings. All political parties need to take permission like this. The caretaker government in the state cannot answer for the cancellation of his visit; the Election Commission can answer that,” she added.The development comes amid an intense electoral battle in West Bengal, where the Congress is contesting the polls while remaining at odds with the TMC.The state is headed for a high-stakes contest, with the Trinamool aiming for a fourth straight term and the BJP looking to build on its previous gains to capture power.In 2021, the Congress failed to open its account. This time, it is attempting to convert the largely bipolar Trinamool vs BJP contest into a triangular one.Polling for the 294-member assembly will be conducted in two phases, with counting scheduled for May 4.
