The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in West Bengal witnessed sharp internal divisions on Wednesday over its growing proximity to the Congress, with several district leaders questioning the political viability of such an alliance.

During a two-day state committee meeting in Kolkata, leaders from North Bengal and parts of South Bengal—including Burdwan East, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar—told the party leadership that a tie-up with the Congress has historically benefited only the latter. According to them, Congress voters rarely transfer their votes to Left candidates, while Left votes get absorbed by the Congress.

The criticism came in the presence of CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and was directly addressed to state secretary Mohammad Salim. The issue has also caused friction within the Left Front: allies Forward Bloc and the RSP have already demanded seats they contested in 1977, making clear their reluctance to accommodate the Congress.

While one section of the CPI(M) state leadership still appears keen on continuing discussions with the Congress and even the Indian Secular Front (ISF), pressure is mounting for a swift decision on whether such an alliance should go forward ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

Salim reportedly warned that if an understanding is reached in certain constituencies, the party must not compromise on organizational preparedness.

Beyond the alliance debate, the state committee also faced criticism from district leaders over the lack of traction in local-level agitations. Reports submitted from various districts suggested that while the BJP has successfully mobilized mass protests on issues such as infiltration, CPI(M)’s movements have remained Kolkata-centric.

Leaders demanded more aggressive, statewide campaigns, particularly around the controversial SIR (Special Investigation Report) issue, insisting that street mobilization must extend beyond the capital to counter BJP’s expanding influence in the districts.