Earlier this week, the Congress party replaced its West Bengal unit chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, with Subhankar Sarkar. While Chowdhury was known for his aggressive stance against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), even as the Delhi leadership sought an alliance, Sarkar is anticipated to adopt a more moderate approach.

In an interview with The Indian Express, the new West Bengal Congress chief outlined his plans for the party, the challenges ahead, and its role within the INDIA bloc, among other topics. Here are some key excerpts:

You take over at a time when the Congress is at one of its lowest points in Bengal, with just one MLA and one MP. What does the party need to do?
My immediate focus is to revitalize and rebuild the party organization from the grassroots to the state level and engage with workers throughout the state. I will also consult with our allied parties. Currently, we are contending against the ideologies of the BJP and RSS, as well as their anti-India actions. Our top priority is to regain the trust of the people.

How do you plan to achieve this?
I intend to engage with all of the party’s frontal organizations—such as the student wing, youth wing, women’s wing, and trade unions—and initiate grassroots programs.

The Congress is struggling in the state due to the BJP’s and TMC’s political marketing, leveraging their financial resources. The TMC uses its police and administrative powers against the populace, instilling fear in the youth. For example, when one of our young workers secures a job, the TMC often creates obstacles by filing false cases against them.

However, as a Congress worker, I understand that the people of Bengal have been dissatisfied with our party’s actions for quite some time, which has resulted in a lack of support. They have witnessed unemployment, corruption, and scandals, including the tragic R G Kar incident (the rape and murder of a junior doctor), yet they continue to vote for both the ruling party and the BJP. I want to explore why the people support the TMC and BJP.

I want them to assess the current situation in the state and compare it to previous administrations. I will also encourage them to reflect on the BJP’s actions at the national level.

I acknowledge our organizational weaknesses in Bengal, but we will strive to persuade the people. We will convey that a weak Congress means a weak state, which in turn leads to a weak nation. I believe the Congress will see positive outcomes in the 2026 Assembly elections.

We will also communicate Rahul Gandhi’s message, who has become the voice of the marginalized after the Bharat Jodo Yatra. People recognize this and thus supported the Congress in the recent Lok Sabha elections, contributing to his position as Leader of the Opposition.

To enhance our social presence, I encourage all Congress workers and supporters to display the party flag at their homes. This will help new party members easily identify households that back the party in their area.

How will the Congress’s relationships with the Left and TMC evolve under your leadership?
The Congress is a key member of the INDIA bloc, which includes both the Left and TMC. Although the TMC contested the Lok Sabha elections independently, the Left and Congress worked together and remain partners in the bloc. However, at this moment, the TMC’s actions are not resonating with the people of Bengal. As elections approach, the AICC will determine our alliances, with final decisions made after consulting our district presidents and party workers.

Will there be an alliance with the TMC?
No political party can move forward without the support of the people. Our decision regarding an alliance with the TMC will depend on discussions between our cadre and senior leadership. Our priority remains to strengthen our party.

Your predecessor was quite vocal against the idea of aligning with Mamata Banerjee…
During the panchayat elections, our workers faced violence from TMC supporters, leading many to seek refuge in the PCC office for two months. Chowdhury rightfully raised concerns about this. There is no personal animosity between him and Banerjee; it was a typical response from any party president.

There are speculations that the Bengal Congress might now operate with two power centers—one in Kolkata and another in Baharampur, Chowdhury’s stronghold.