Democracy Facing Deep Crisis Under BJP Rule, Says Bengal Congress Chief Subhankar Sarkar

Subhankar Sarkar Says Democracy Is Facing a Deep Crisis

West Bengal Pradesh Congress president Subhankar Sarkar on Monday alleged that democracy in India is facing a “deep crisis” under BJP rule.

In a statement, Sarkar accused the BJP government and the Election Commission of undermining democratic institutions and alleged that dissent was being suppressed.

His comments came ahead of the October 6 Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar, where the Congress is seeking to consolidate opposition support.

Sarkar's statements represent the Congress party's political position and allegations. They should not be treated as established findings about the functioning of the government or Election Commission.

Congress Leader Targets Election Commission

Sarkar also criticised the Election Commission, alleging that it was acting in favour of the BJP-led Centre.

He linked his criticism to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's campaign over alleged “vote theft”, describing the issue as a wider effort to protect constitutional and democratic institutions.

Sarkar also referred to disputes involving political party names and election symbols in Maharashtra, alleging that a similar situation was developing in West Bengal.

The Election Commission has been facing political scrutiny over electoral-roll and party-symbol disputes in several states, but Sarkar's characterization of its conduct is an allegation rather than an established institutional finding.

Allegations of Suppression of Dissent

The West Bengal Congress chief also targeted the state government's law-and-order and administrative approach.

Sarkar alleged that an atmosphere of fear had developed in West Bengal and claimed that bulldozers were being used against shops and houses belonging to poor people.

He further alleged that police were being used to suppress dissent.

Sarkar described these developments as inconsistent with West Bengal's political culture and compared them with what he called the “Yogi model” of Uttar Pradesh. These statements were made by Sarkar as part of his criticism of the BJP government and have not been independently established in the report.

Opposition Unity Ahead of October 6 Bypolls

A major part of Sarkar's statement focused on opposition unity.

He said anti-BJP parties and what he described as democratic forces were gradually coming together in West Bengal. He appealed to opposition groups to avoid statements or actions that could create divisions.

The Congress leader framed the political contest as a broader ideological battle rather than simply a competition for government power.

The remarks come as West Bengal prepares for Assembly bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6.

Congress Candidates in Nandigram and Rejinagar

Sarkar appealed to voters to support Congress-backed candidates in the two constituencies.

According to the report, the Congress has fielded Milan Pradhan in Nandigram and Abdullahil Kafi in Rejinagar.

Sarkar urged voters to support the candidates using the Congress's hand symbol.

The appeal is part of the Congress's broader effort to position itself as an opposition force ahead of the bypolls.

Milan Pradhan's Arrest Adds to Nandigram Controversy

The Nandigram contest has become particularly contentious because Congress candidate Milan Pradhan remains in judicial custody.

Pradhan was arrested in connection with cases related to the 2007 anti-land-acquisition movement in Nandigram and Khejuri in Purba Medinipur.

Congress leaders have criticised the arrest and argued that it has affected the electoral contest. The legal cases against Pradhan and the circumstances surrounding them remain separate from the Congress's political allegations against the BJP.

The issue has also drawn criticism from other senior Congress leaders. KC Venugopal previously described Pradhan's arrest as part of what Congress calls authoritarian politics and said the party would continue with his candidature.

TMC Also Enters the Nandigram Picture

The Nandigram bypoll has an additional political dimension because the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction has backed the Congress candidate.

The development followed the Election Commission's decision to provide separate interim names and symbols to rival TMC factions.

The Mamata-led faction has since been allotted the name Mamata All India Trinamool Congress and a football-player symbol, while the rival faction has been given the name Democratic Trinamool Congress and an envelope symbol.

This means the opposition landscape in Nandigram is different from a conventional multi-cornered contest, with the Congress candidate receiving support from the Mamata camp.

Rejinagar Also Set for a Bypoll

Rejinagar is the other West Bengal Assembly constituency scheduled to vote on October 6.

The Congress is contesting there as part of its effort to expand its presence in the state and challenge the BJP.

The two bypolls are therefore being closely watched by political parties because they come after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election and amid changes in the state's political alignments.

Congress's Broader “Vote Theft” Campaign

Sarkar's comments also connect the Bengal Congress's campaign with Rahul Gandhi's broader allegations concerning electoral processes.

He said the “vote theft” issue should be viewed as a fight to protect the Constitution rather than simply as a party-political dispute.

The BJP and Election Commission have their own positions on electoral processes, while allegations concerning electoral manipulation remain matters of political dispute unless supported by independent evidence or official findings.

BJP's 2026 Bengal Victory Provides the Political Context

The comments come several months after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, in which the BJP emerged as the governing party in the state.

Reuters reported in May that the BJP was sweeping West Bengal during the election count, marking a major change in the state's political landscape.

Sarkar's criticism is therefore being made in the context of a new BJP-led government in a state where the political balance had previously been different.

Political Claims Remain Contested

The allegations made by Sarkar cover several separate issues: democratic institutions, the Election Commission, police action, demolitions, dissent and electoral politics.

Each of these claims requires separate evidence and cannot automatically be treated as proof of broader institutional wrongdoing.

The BJP has not been presented in the cited report as accepting Sarkar's characterization of the situation. The Congress's comments should therefore be understood as part of the political contest ahead of the bypolls.

Why the Bypolls Matter

The October 6 contests will take place against the backdrop of significant changes in West Bengal politics.

For the Congress, the elections provide an opportunity to test its organisational strength and its ability to attract support beyond its traditional base.

For the BJP, the contests will be among the early electoral tests after forming the state government.

The involvement of the Mamata-led TMC faction in supporting the Congress candidate in Nandigram adds another layer to the political contest.

Key Developments at a Glance

IssueDetailsCongress leaderSubhankar SarkarPositionWest Bengal Pradesh Congress presidentMain allegationDemocracy facing a “deep crisis”Institution criticisedElection CommissionOther allegationsSuppression of dissent and political pressureUpcoming bypollsNandigram and RejinagarPoll dateOctober 6, 2026Congress candidate, NandigramMilan PradhanCongress candidate, RejinagarAbdullahil KafiNandigram developmentMamata-led TMC faction backing CongressLegal issueMilan Pradhan remains in judicial custody

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus will be on the October 6 bypolls in Nandigram and Rejinagar.

The Congress is seeking support from opposition voters while the BJP will defend its position following its victory in the 2026 state Assembly election.

The Nandigram contest will also be watched because of Milan Pradhan's continued judicial custody and the decision of the Mamata-led TMC faction to back his candidature.

Meanwhile, the political debate over electoral processes, the Election Commission and the functioning of the new state government is likely to continue through the campaign.

Bottom Line

West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar has alleged that democracy is facing a deep crisis under BJP rule, accusing the government and Election Commission of undermining democratic institutions and alleging suppression of dissent.

He has also called for unity among opposition parties ahead of the October 6 Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly bypolls, while urging voters to support Congress candidates.

The allegations are part of the Congress's political campaign and have not been independently established as factual findings. The upcoming bypolls, particularly Nandigram, will take place amid a broader political dispute involving the BJP government, Congress, the Mamata-led TMC faction and the Election Commission.