Economist and social activist Prasenjit Bose to join Congress

Economist and social activist Prasenjit Bose, who is well known in the social and political circles of West Bengal, is all set to join the Congress party. Mr. Bose (51) had resigned from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 2012 over differences with the party for supporting the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee as the President of India.

“There is an assault on the Constitution by the government of the day. The battle against it is being fought by the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi. They are only one who are trying to protect the Constitution,” Mr. Bose told The Hindu confirming his decision to join the Congress party.

The economist has led several movements in the State against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and was the convenor of Joint Forum against NRC Kolkata. Of late, Mr. Bose has actively taken up the issue of land acquisition at Deocha Pachami Coal Mining project in West Bengal’s district and faced a clamp down by the West Bengal ruling party and the government for highlighting the issue of tribal rights.

Mr. Bose said that at this moment the biggest challenge before the people is to resist Special Intensive Revision (SIR) so that the people’s right to vote is protected.

“The immediate agenda is to deal with SIR which is likely to start from October (in West Bengal). The Congress has put up a huge fight against SIR in Bihar and I was associated with them and have gathered some experience at the grass roots level,” he said.

The economist said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been raising all the relevant issues such as caste census and his association with the party will provide him a bigger platform to work with the people. Mr. Bose is likely to be inducted in the Congress at an event in Kolkata on September 15, 2025 in presence of State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar.

Mr. Bose’s joining of the Congress party ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls in West Bengal will come as a shot in the arm for the grand old party whose electoral prospects have been dwindling in the State. The Congress party has no representation in the State Assembly but won Malda Dakshin Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress party had allied with the Trinamool Congress to oust the 34- year-old Left Front in the State in 2011. Later since 2016 the Congress party in West Bengal has entered into electoral understanding with CPI(M) led Left Front but without much electoral success.