New Delhi: The Congress has called off Rahul Gandhi’s planned campaign visit to Kolkata ahead of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, alleging that necessary permissions were not granted by the state authorities.
Rahul Gandhi, a Lok Sabha MP, was scheduled to lead a major rally in the city as part of the party’s election push. However, party leaders said they waited until Tuesday evening for official clearance but did not receive approval in time to organise the April 23 event. As a result, logistical preparations could not be completed, forcing the cancellation. The party is now expected to seek fresh permission for a revised visit, likely later in the month.
Congress leaders have accused the local administration and police of acting under the direction of the Mamata Banerjee led government, claiming that the denial of permission was politically motivated. State Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar alleged that recent rallies addressed by Rahul Gandhi in districts such as Malda and Murshidabad had unsettled both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Responding to the allegations, state minister Shashi Panja said that all political parties must follow standard procedures for organising public meetings. She explained that applications are required to be submitted through the designated online system within a specified timeframe, and permissions are granted accordingly. She added that these rules apply uniformly to all parties.
The controversy has unfolded during a closely contested election season in West Bengal. The Congress is contesting in alliance with Left parties and is aiming to regain political ground after a poor performance in the previous assembly polls.
The state is witnessing a high stakes contest, with the Trinamool Congress seeking another term in power while the Bharatiya Janata Party is attempting to expand its presence. The Congress hopes to transform the contest into a three way race as polling proceeds in phases, with vote counting scheduled early next month.
