Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to speak at election rallies in West Bengal on Saturday, with public gatherings planned in Kolkata and Serampore. Initially facing permission denials, Gandhi’s campaign schedule was disrupted but later reinstated with a change in date. The planned rallies in Kolkata and Serampore on April 23 were canceled due to a lack of police clearance.
This turn of events led to strong political reactions, with the Congress accusing the state administration of bias and obstruction. Allegations surfaced that the denial of permission was influenced by the ruling Trinamool Congress, escalating tensions among Opposition parties in the state. However, the situation was swiftly resolved, and fresh clearance was granted by authorities on April 22, rescheduling the rallies for April 25.
As per the updated plan, Rahul Gandhi will address a significant public gathering at Shahid Minar Maidan in Kolkata around 2:30 P.M. today. This venue holds historical significance in political mobilizations in the city. Following the Kolkata event, Gandhi will proceed to Serampore in Hooghly district for another crucial election rally later in the day.
The initial denial of permission was strongly criticized by Congress leaders, who viewed it as an attempt by the state government to hinder Opposition campaigning. This incident briefly added to the already intense political climate in West Bengal, where multiple parties are competing for influence in the ongoing electoral contests.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi intensified his criticism of both the ruling Trinamool and the BJP during his recent statements. He argued that the BJP’s emergence in West Bengal was a direct result of governance failures by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration. Gandhi emphasized that had Banerjee’s government been transparent and not polarized Bengal, the BJP would not have gained ground.
