The INDIA alliance is facing significant internal strife after the declaration of the West Bengal and Assam election results on May 4, 2026. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a historic victory in West Bengal, securing 206 out of 294 assembly seats, effectively reducing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to just 80 seats.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has pointed fingers directly at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that her failure to act on warnings from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding potential “vote chori” led to the TMC's substantial defeat. Raut emphasized that a proactive discussion between Banerjee and Gandhi could have yielded a different outcome for the state.
Allegations of 'Vote Chori' and EC Criticism
Mamata Banerjee herself echoed these concerns, claiming on Monday night that the BJP had “looted” over 100 seats in West Bengal. She vehemently criticized the Election Commission (EC), labeling it “the BJP’s commission,” and denounced the BJP’s victory as “immoral” and “illegal.”
Rahul Gandhi, in turn, supported Banerjee’s accusations of election manipulation in both West Bengal and Assam. He urged Congress workers and other INDIA alliance members not to revel in the TMC’s setback, framing the alleged “theft” as a deliberate move by the BJP to undermine democratic processes in India. Gandhi had previously made similar claims of “vote chori” in numerous seats during the Lok Sabha elections, as well as in state elections in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.
Internal Discord Within the Alliance
The electoral outcomes have intensified existing tensions within the INDIA bloc. Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) publicly condemned the internal gloating among alliance partners over the defeats of TMC and DMK, stressing that such divisions only serve to benefit the BJP. She called for unity and collective strength, reminding allies that the INDIA bloc was founded on cooperation, not rivalry.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal also weighed in, accusing the BJP of rigging elections across the country. Citing examples from Bihar, Maharashtra, and Bengal, Kejriwal claimed that the BJP has systematically “hijacked and murdered democracy.” He recounted a personal experience where a significant number of votes in his own assembly constituency were allegedly cancelled, leading to his defeat.
As the INDIA alliance grapples with these election results and the ensuing accusations, the focus remains on the integrity of the electoral process and the future cohesion of the opposition front.