Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader, addressed a massive crowd at a high-energy rally near Shahid Minar in Kolkata today. The event buzzed with enthusiasm as thousands of supporters gathered under the scorching sun, many spilling outside the hangar venue.

Gandhi arrived nearly an hour late from a meeting in Sreerampore, but the delay did little to dampen spirits. Heavy NSG security blanketed the area, underscoring the event's intensity. The backdrop featured a giant image of Gandhi holding the Constitution's preamble, flanked by Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, and Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Huge placards displayed the Congress manifesto, with digital boards highlighting key promises. Reporters and cameramen swarmed the venue, capturing every moment opposite the historic Shahid Minar—a reminder of Congress's rule in Bengal five decades ago. Gandhi wasted no time launching sharp attacks.

"While Congress fights to unite India's people, BJP divides them on religion, creed, and caste," he declared. He spoke of personal hardships, saying he stood before them on bail after losing his official home and Lok Sabha membership. "Modi has hit me with investigation after investigation," Gandhi added.

He contrasted this with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing agencies of sparing her despite "scams."

"If probes against Mamataji were real, she'd be on bail too," he quipped, alleging BJP's "original fight" targets only Congress. Gandhi branded Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "specialised vote chor" for alleged manipulations in Maharashtra, Bihar, and Karnataka. He mocked Modi's "56-inch chest" and "desh bhakti" claims, questioning why he fled Parliament during Gandhi's speech against "Adani and Ambani."

On farmers, Gandhi warned Modi had agreed to sell American products in India, "deciding to kill our farmers." He accused the government of data transfers and petroleum imports needing U.S. permission. Praising true patriots like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he slammed Bengal's issues: cheat funds, coal smuggling, and job scams.

Gandhi ridiculed unfulfilled job promises—Mamata's 5 lakh jobs and Modi's 2 crore annually—likening them to empty jokes. He drew parallels between rapists going free in BJP states and similar failures under TMC, saying both parties neglect jobs.

"Mamata ji has opened the door for BJP in Bengal," he charged. Congress, Gandhi stressed, refuses compromise with BJP. "We are the only ones who can defeat them," he asserted. He claimed both Trinamool Congress and BJP conspired to block his Bengal visits, cancelling rallies and denying cooperation.

Repeating his call against scams, he urged unity: "In a world of hate, we must bloom flowers of love. Don't fear—Congress will win one day. "Other speakers amplified the rhetoric. Amba Prasad recited poetry attacking TMC's "syndicate raj, jungle raj, and corruption." Without naming Banerjee, she targeted a "woman in white saree and slippers," saying welfare schemes had turned people into servants.

"You won't get jobs, just bhatas," she said. "Girls' families now ask how much you earn from schemes. Mamata Banerjee should go now. Beware TMC and BJP. Bengalis resisted British rule but now bow to handouts."Rohan Mitra, Ballygunge candidate and son of late leader Somen Mitra, hit RSS hard.

"TMC and BJP share one father: RSS," he declared. He criticised TMC for failing to re-enroll voters post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Congress, he boasted, has a clear opposition and CM face in Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, while BJP lacks faces in Bengal. The rally pulsed with energy.

Supporters chanted slogans, waved flags, and endured the heat for a glimpse of Gandhi. Congress positioned itself as Bengal's anti-BJP bulwark, promising jobs, unity, and a return to its storied legacy. As the crowd dispersed, the message lingered: Congress eyes maximum seats to challenge BJP's dominance.

This event signals escalating pre-election battles in West Bengal, where Congress is looking at a revival amid TMC-BJP rivalry. Analysts note Gandhi's personal narrative and local attacks could energise cadres, though seat-sharing dynamics remain fluid.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has increasingly relied on Lok Sabha MPs Saayoni Ghosh and Dev as two of its most visible campaigners in West Bengal, reflecting a broader strategy that combines public recognition with political messaging.

In a state where electoral outcomes are shaped not just by organisation but also by personality and emotional resonance, both leaders have moved beyond celebrity status to occupy distinct political roles. Saayoni is often positioned as a sharp and energetic youth voice, while Dev — also a hugely popular actor — functions as a widely recognised and accessible crowd-puller.

Saayoni Ghosh’s entry into politics has been relatively recent but structured. Before joining active politics, she built a career in films and television, becoming familiar to audiences in Bengal. Coming from a middle-class Kolkata background, she developed a public image that the party later saw as politically useful.

According to TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, “That public image helped TMC see her as more than an actress. The party understood that she could speak to young people, defend the party in public, and answer opponents with confidence. Her appointment as president of the state youth wing in 2021 showed that the party wanted her to do real political work, not just appear on stage. Later, her win from Jadavpur in the 2024 Lok Sabha election confirmed that she had moved from celebrity politics to serious political responsibility.”

Dev’s trajectory into politics followed a different path. Already a well-known Bengali film star, he entered public life with significant name recognition. He grew up between Chandrakona in Paschim Medinipur and Mumbai, studied computer engineering, and later built a successful film career.

Kunal Ghosh said, “His family background gave him a story that ordinary people could relate to, and his film career made him instantly familiar to voters. When he later entered politics, he did not need to introduce himself. People already knew his face, his voice, and his screen image. That familiarity became a major political advantage. In 2023, Mamata Banerjee’s decision to appoint him as brand ambassador for Bengal tourism underlined how strongly the party values him as a public figure.”

A senior IPAC functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party’s use of both leaders is part of a deliberate campaign strategy. “Saayoni brings urgency, youth appeal, and a fighting spirit. Dev brings warmth, popularity, and a softer image that cuts across age groups. Together, they help the party speak to different kinds of voters. Saayoni can attract students, first-time voters, and people who want a tough political voice. Dev can reach families, film fans, and voters who prefer a familiar and less aggressive style,” he said.

The same strategist explained that Saayoni’s effectiveness lies in her direct style of communication. She is often deployed in areas where the party seeks sharper messaging against opponents and a stronger emotional connection with voters. Her speeches tend to be personal and immediate, presenting her as a confident and combative figure — a style that resonates particularly with younger voters.

Dev, by contrast, is used differently. He is not typically positioned as a combative speaker but as a figure who draws crowds. His presence alone can attract large audiences, after which the party delivers its message. “This is one of the oldest and most useful forms of political campaigning, and Dev fits it well. He can turn a public meeting into a social event. He can create interest even before he speaks. That makes him especially valuable in both urban and semi-urban areas, where star value still matters a great deal,” the strategist said.

Both leaders also benefit from being rooted in Bengal’s cultural landscape. Their association with the state’s entertainment industry gives them familiarity and relatability among voters. This, in turn, allows the party to project itself as aligned with Bengal’s cultural sensibilities while maintaining a contemporary image.

Within the party, both have received visible backing. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to assign Dev a role in promoting Bengal tourism highlighted the leadership’s confidence in him beyond electoral campaigning. Saayoni, meanwhile, has been recognised within the party for her assertiveness and clarity in political messaging.

Senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee summed up their complementary roles: “Saayoni gives the party edge. Dev gives it reach. Saayoni can turn a political meeting into a charged public moment. Dev can turn a rally into a mass gathering. Saayoni speaks well to the restless and the young. Dev speaks well to the broad middle that likes familiarity and calm confidence. In Bengal’s highly competitive political space, that mix is powerful.”

Their prominence also reflects a broader shift in campaign dynamics, where recognisable faces and trusted voices often carry more immediate impact than traditional messaging alone. As a result, Saayoni Ghosh and Dev continue to function not just as public figures but as key political assets within the TMC’s campaign strategy in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sharpened his attack on West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress at an election rally in Baruipur, accusing the state government of allowing “anarchy” to take hold at Jadavpur University — one of India’s most prominent higher education institutions.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee responded with an open letter and social media posts, calling his remarks an insult to Bengal’s youth and turning the charge of anarchy back on the Centre.

Addressing the rally ahead of phase two of the ongoing state Assembly elections, Modi invoked the university’s legacy while alleging a decline in its present condition. “The name of Jadavpur University was once spoken of with reverence across the globe,” he said. “Its foundation rested on nationalism. But today, threats echo within its premises. Anti-national slogans are scrawled on walls. Instead of studies, students hit the streets. We want learning, not chaos; empathy, not intimidation.”

He questioned how a state government that, in his view, was failing to safeguard a premier institution could secure Bengal’s future. The prime minister also referred to what the right-wing ecosystem is fond of calling the “tukde-tukde gang” — a nebulous catch-all used for alleged anti-national elements who wish to break the country into pieces (tukde) — and criticised what he described as disruptions to academic activity on campus.

Banerjee responded swiftly and sharply. In a public letter, she wrote: “Honourable Prime Minister, it pains me deeply to ask: Is this how you describe the brilliant students of renowned Jadavpur University? Year after year, it tops your own government’s NIRF rankings — a true seat of excellence. Yet you disparage it? Can you stoop so low?” She praised the university’s students for their “sharp minds and questioning spirit”, describing these as the essence of education rather than signs of disorder.

Escalating her attack, Banerjee listed what she described as real instances of anarchy. “Anarchy is bulldozers as tools of power, not justice,” she said. “It’s farmers dying while their voices are silenced. It’s freeing rapists for political gain. It’s denying the poor their rights, dividing the nation on religious lines for votes, dodging the media, and ignoring Manipur’s flames while chasing elections.”

She defended student protests as integral to democracy and urged Modi not to “tarnish” an institution shaped by nationalist thinkers such as Sri Aurobindo. “Please don’t insult Bengal,” she added.

The exchange has stirred sharp reactions in Kolkata’s political and academic circles, particularly around Jadavpur University, long associated with left-leaning student activism. Students were quick to respond. Vaishnavi Sarkar of the Democratic Students’ Front said, “No right-wing student group has ever dominated Jadavpur. The prime minister’s frustration stems from that failure.” Noel Gomes of We the Independent (WTI), a campus organisation, added, “Our students walk tall and fearless. That’s what intimidates him.”

The campus has frequently been at the centre of political debate, with protests over issues ranging from fees to national policies drawing both praise and criticism. The TMC has characterised such activism as democratic dissent, while BJP leaders have often described it as evidence of ideological extremism.

Political analyst Sujit Chatterjee said, “Modi’s Baruipur speech fits a broader BJP narrative painting TMC as soft on ‘anti-nationals’ to rally Hindu voters in south Bengal. However, this may not work. We already saw students all over India speaking against Modi and his government after what happened at universities in Delhi and elsewhere.”

With elections approaching, both sides appear to be intensifying their messaging. Modi has repeatedly targeted the TMC government on education, employment and law and order, while Banerjee has countered by highlighting Centre-state tensions, including disputes over funding and issues such as violence in Manipur. Her letter has been widely shared online, amplifying the political divide.

Analysts say the episode reflects a familiar electoral pattern. One observer noted that Modi’s remarks appear aimed at tapping urban youth sentiment, while Banerjee’s response seeks to frame the issue as one of regional pride and identity. For now, Jadavpur University has once again become a focal point in West Bengal’s high-stakes political contest.