Kolkata, April 25 (IANS) Congress Rajya Sabha MPs, Pramod Tiwari and Akhilesh Prasad, on Saturday claimed that the Congress will play a decisive role in forming the government in West Bengal after Assembly polls.

The Congress is contesting the election in West Bengal on its own and without any alliance after 20 years.

In this context, the leadership is targeting both the Trinamool and the BJP. According to Pramod Tiwari and Akhilesh Prasad Singh, the Congress is emerging as the third force here. Both of them said at the same time, “Although the main focus is on the two big parties here, the Congress has emerged as the third force. Congress will play a decisive role in the coming days.”

Pramod Tiwari spoke about the history of cultural and political movements in Bengal. He also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and raised questions about the security of Delhi. He said, “Why has the government failed to ensure security even in areas directly under the Centre? And Trinamool is encouraging syndicate culture, corruption and political violence here. Both parties are doing politics of division.”

Another party MP, Akhilesh said, “No government will be formed in West Bengal without the Congress. The state has now gone to the bottom in important sectors like education, health and industry.”

The comments from the Congress leaders came ahead of party leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to West Bengal on Saturday for election campaigning. He has three meetings in a row. The first meeting will be in Serampore of Hooghly district, with all the candidates of the district, including the state Congress president Subhankar Sarkar being present. From there, Rahul Gandhi will fly by helicopter to join the meeting at Shahid Minar in Kolkata. The last meeting will be in Metiaburuz area under Kolkata Port Assembly constituency.

The second phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal for the remaining 142 Assembly constituencies will be held on April 29. ​The results will be declared on May 4 after several rounds of counting of votes.

–IANS

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