Revamp Looms Over Bengal Congress: Will Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Stay at the Helm?

The West Bengal Congress faces uncertainty after a dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, securing only one seat out of 42. State President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s defeat in Baharampur, after five consecutive terms, has intensified speculation about his future leadership. Chowdhury, who opposed an alliance with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), lost to TMC’s Yusuf Pathan, and has hinted at resigning, though he later clarified that his remarks were taken out of context.

Despite hopes for a strong showing, particularly in Murshidabad, Baharampur, and Jangipur, the Congress-Left alliance fell short. The Congress is now considering an organizational overhaul. Sources within the party suggest a revamp is imminent, though it remains undecided if Chowdhury will continue as state president.

Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, during a review meeting in Kolkata, indicated that new leadership faces were being considered across the country, but emphasized consultation before finalizing state unit heads. Isha Khan Chowdhury, Congress MP from Maldaha Dakshin, stated that all organizational decisions would be made by the high command.

TMC leader Mamata Banerjee criticized the Congress for not forming an alliance with the TMC, suggesting they could have secured more seats. However, Congress leaders argue that aligning with the TMC would have been detrimental, particularly for the 2026 assembly polls. They stress that grassroots Congress workers are in constant conflict with the TMC, and forcing an alliance would create further issues.

The Congress source highlighted the need to address internal authoritarianism and emphasized that the party’s strategy must be recalibrated to restore its electoral fortunes in West Bengal.