‘TMC goons have free rein, no accountability in Bengal’: Rahul Gandhi slams Mamata Banerjee

Addressing a rally in Raiganj, Gandhi alleged the TMC government has failed on multiple fronts since coming to power in 2011.

What did he say?

Gandhi blamed the TMC for weakening the state’s industrial base, rising unemployment, and deteriorating law and order.

“West Bengal was once a thriving industrial hub, but decades of misgovernance—from the Left to the present Mamata Banerjee regime—have severely weakened its industrial base,” he said.

Referring to job promises, Gandhi added, “In 2021, Mamata-ji had promised jobs for 5 lakh youth, yet 84 lakh were forced to seek unemployment allowance.”

RG Kar case in focus

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha intensified his attack over crimes against women, citing the RG Kar rape and murder case.

“Law and order is another serious concern. Incidents of violence and crimes against women, including the RG Kar case, raise troubling questions about accountability. TMC goons are on a free run in the state,” he said.

Gandhi also flagged political violence, mentioning the killing of Congress leader Tapan Kundu.

Why this matters

The remarks are significant as Congress is contesting the Assembly elections alone in West Bengal for the first time since 2011.

Despite being allies at the national level under the INDIA bloc against the BJP led by Narendra Modi, relations between Congress and TMC have remained strained in the state.

Political observers suggest Congress could improve its performance in regions like Malda, Murshidabad, and Dinajpur—traditional strongholds where TMC made significant inroads in 2021.