Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal: How Poll Setbacks Laid Bare Alliance Fissures Across Camps

Last Updated:May 11, 2026, 14:14 IST

The poll results in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam have exposed strains within the INDIA bloc, with opposition unity and alliance strategies coming under scrutiny.

The recent Assembly election results in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam have triggered visible cracks within opposition formations and regional parties, with leaders openly questioning campaign strategies, leadership decisions and alliance management after disappointing performances.

From internal criticism within the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal to demands for leadership change in the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and sharp observations by Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi in Assam, the post-poll atmosphere across states has laid bare simmering tensions that were largely contained during campaigning.

The electoral setbacks have also intensified debates around centralised leadership, alliance coordination and organisational preparedness, with several leaders publicly admitting that strategic miscalculations and internal sabotage weakened their respective camps.

WEST BENGAL: TMC FACES INTERNAL BACKLASH AFTER DEFEAT

The sharpest internal criticism emerged within the Trinamool Congress after its electoral defeat in West Bengal, with several leaders attacking their own party leadership and organisational structure.

Suspended TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta launched a public attack on the party after being suspended for six years over alleged anti-party remarks.

Dutta alleged that corruption had become institutionalised within the party and claimed that money was demanded for routine civic-related work.

“From installing commodes in homes to getting building plans approved, money had to be paid everywhere," Dutta alleged while speaking to reporters.

He also referred to the school jobs scam and said allegations of “job theft" should have been taken seriously.

Dutta further claimed that many TMC leaders were keen to join the BJP and questioned why people in the state appeared “free to express themselves without fear" after the election verdict.

The TMC had suspended Dutta along with spokespersons Kohinoor Majumdar and Kartik Ghosh over alleged breach of party discipline.

The internal criticism extended beyond suspended leaders.

Veteran TMC leader Asit Mazumdar accused sections of the leadership of arrogance and administrative paralysis, while senior MP Kalyan Banerjee blamed political consultancy firm I-PAC and spoke about “sabotage" within the organisation.

“TMC was defeated by TMC itself," Banerjee said, adding that ticket distribution and consultant-driven campaign management had damaged local organisational structures.

Political analysts quoted in reports said the poll verdict had punctured the aura of invincibility surrounding the Mamata Banerjee-led party since 2011.

Concerns have also emerged over possible defections at municipal and panchayat levels in the coming months.

The focus has additionally shifted to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, whose growing organisational control has come under scrutiny after the defeat.

Several party leaders reportedly questioned aggressive restructuring and candidate replacement strategies that allegedly disrupted local equations.

TAMIL NADU: AIADMK DIVIDED AFTER ELECTORAL SETBACK

In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK has witnessed internal divisions after a disappointing electoral performance in which the party won only 47 seats despite contesting 167 constituencies.

The results triggered disagreements within the party over whether to extend support to the ruling TVK, while calls for party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami’s resignation also surfaced.

According to party sources quoted in reports, one faction opposed supporting the Vijay-led TVK government, while another section favoured extending outside support.

The divide became more visible after several senior leaders and former ministers, including C Ve Shanmugam and SP Velumani, reportedly skipped meetings chaired by Palaniswami.

Party insiders indicated that Shanmugam, Velumani and their supporters were inclined towards backing the TVK government. Former AIADMK leader KC Palanisamy said there was a “clear split" within the party and warned that some MLAs could support the TVK if Palaniswami continued as leader.

He also said Palaniswami should “voluntarily step down" to enable party reunification ahead of future elections.

Political analyst Sathyalaya Ramakrishnan, however, urged AIADMK leaders to resolve differences through dialogue and maintain unity, noting that the MLAs were still sitting together in the Assembly.

The developments have exposed deeper concerns within the AIADMK over leadership direction and electoral strategy after the party failed to mount an effective challenge in the state.

ASSAM: AKHIL GOGOI QUESTIONS OPPOSITION STRATEGY

In Assam, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi emerged as one of the few prominent opposition leaders to retain his seat, winning the Sibsagar constituency by defeating BJP candidate Kushal Dowari by 17,272 votes. Gogoi secured 86,521 votes against Dowari’s 69,249.

However, even as he retained his seat, Gogoi openly criticised the broader opposition alliance led by the Congress for lacking a coherent strategy against the BJP.

“The BJP had a very good plan and, at our end, there was a last-minute, unplanned, haphazard and half-hearted campaign," Gogoi said while speaking to reporters.

He added that prolonged alliance discussions consumed valuable time and prevented the opposition from formulating an effective electoral strategy.

Gogoi also accused the BJP of pursuing a multi-pronged political strategy over several years, including delimitation exercises and sustained communal polarisation campaigns.

“The BJP’s biggest strategy was delimitation and the Special Revision of voter lists," he said, alleging that the opposition failed to create a counter-strategy to resist the BJP’s political messaging.

The Congress had stitched together a six-party alliance, including Raijor Dal, to challenge the BJP-led NDA in the 126-member Assembly.

But the post-result criticism from Gogoi highlighted frustrations within opposition ranks over campaign planning and coordination.

The poll outcomes across the three states have not only reshaped regional political equations but also exposed underlying tensions within parties and alliances that had remained concealed during the election campaign.

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