Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, 4 May publicly rebuked his own party leaders for celebrating the Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, calling such behaviour "petty politics" and urging Congress members to focus on the broader threat to Indian democracy.

Gandhi's Warning to His Own Party

In a post on X, Gandhi said, "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."

He added: "Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India." The statement was notable for its directness — a sitting Leader of Opposition publicly disciplining his own party's rank and file in an open forum.

Gandhi Backs Mamata's 'Vote Chori' Claim

Gandhi also said he agrees with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation of "vote chori" (vote theft). "Assam and Bengal are clear cases of the election being stolen by the BJP with the support of the EC. We agree with Mamata ji. More than 100 seats were stolen in Bengal. We have seen this playbook before: Madhya Pradesh. Haryana. Maharashtra. Lok Sabha 2024, etc.," he said.

Gandhi framed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s victories in both states as a coordinated effort to undermine democratic institutions — a framing the BJP has not yet formally responded to. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has not issued a public rebuttal to the "vote chori" allegations at the time of reporting.

West Bengal Election Results at a Glance

In the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, the majority mark stands at 148. Results were declared for 293 constituencies on Monday, with repolling scheduled in the Falta seat of South 24 Parganas district on 21 May, with counting due on 24 May, as announced by the ECI.

Of the declared results, the BJP secured 206 seats — well past the majority mark — while the Trinamool Congress managed only 81. The Congress won two seats, the CPI(M) one, the AISF one, and the Aam Janata Unnayan Party two. Notably, the TMC failed to win a single seat in ten districts, including Cooch Behar, East Midnapore, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling, and lost all tribal- and Matua-dominated constituencies.

In a particularly significant result, TMC chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her Bhabanipur seat to BJP's Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes — ending her personal electoral record in that stronghold.

Assam Consolidates BJP's Position

In Assam, the BJP-led alliance registered a decisive victory, winning 82 seats against the Congress's 19. The results further marginalised the opposition in the northeastern state and reinforced the BJP's grip on a region it has held since 2016.

What This Means Going Forward

The BJP is now set to form the next government in West Bengal with a commanding two-thirds majority, ending the TMC's 15-year rule in the state. Gandhi's intervention signals that the Congress intends to position itself as a unifying opposition force rather than a beneficiary of the TMC's collapse — a strategic calculation with implications for the broader INDIA bloc's cohesion ahead of future electoral contests.