‘Put petty politics aside’: Rahul Gandhi tells Congress leaders not to ‘gloat’ about TMC Bengal loss

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked members of his party and others to avoid “gloating” about the defeat of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

“Put petty politics aside,” said the Opposition leader. “This is not about one party or another. This is about [India].”

In a social media post Gandhi added: “The theft of Assam and Bengal’s mandate is a big step forward by the [Bharatiya Janata Party] in its mission to destroy Indian democracy.”

The BJP won 206 seats of the 294-member West Bengal Assembly – ending the TMC’s 15-year rule. As of 1.20 pm on Tuesday, the Hindutva party was also ahead in one seat, where counting was still underway.

The TMC won 80 seats and the Congress, which had failed to open its account in the 2021 election, won two seats this time.

Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about TMC’s loss.

They need to understand this clearly - the theft of Assam and Bengal’s mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy.

Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or…— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 5, 2026

In Assam, the BJP will form the government for a third consecutive term, having won 82 seats in the 126-member Assembly. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 102 seats.

On Monday, Gandhi...

Read more