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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday launched a broadside against the TMC-led West Bengal government after permission for Rahul Gandhi\u2019s rally in Kolkata was denied ahead of the first phase of the assembly elections.Party sources told news agency ANI that the local administration \u2014 specifically the police \u2014 is acting at the behest of the Mamata government. The party added that it waited until 6.00 pm, but as permission was not granted, it is no longer possible to make preparations for the event.\u201cA fresh request for administrative permission will be submitted for a revised schedule, likely for either April 25 or 26,\u201d party sources added.West Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar said the Trinamool and the BJP were \u201crattled\u201d by rallies Rahul Gandhi held in Malda and Murshidabad.\u201cSeeing the massive crowds thronging the public meetings of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has left the Mamata Banerjee government and the BJP so rattled that now even permission for venues for their rallies is being denied,\u201d Sarkar said.In a social media post on X, Congress said that denying Rahul\u2019s visit is \u201cpure insecurity masked as administration.\u201d\u201cBengal is not Mamata Banerjee\u2019s or TMC\u2019s private estate! Denying Rahul Gandhi\u2019s campaign visit is pure political insecurity masked as administration,\u201d Congress said.\u201cIf your mandate is so strong, why fear a public meeting? Bengal deserves real democracy, not police-controlled politics,\u201d it added.Meanwhile, West Bengal minister Shashi Panja pointed out that the model code of conduct is in place in the state and a caretaker government cannot answer for the cancellation of Rahul\u2019s visit.\u201cApplication for public meetings needs to be sent through the Suvidha Portal. Permission is granted through there. It needs to be done 2\u20137 days before the public meeting. This rule applies to all public meetings,\u201d Panja said.\u201cThis rule applies to all public meetings. All political parties need to take permission like this. The caretaker government in the state cannot answer for the cancellation of his visit; the Election Commission can answer that,\u201d she added.The development comes amid an intense electoral battle in West Bengal, where the Congress is contesting the polls while remaining at odds with the TMC.The state is headed for a high-stakes contest, with the Trinamool aiming for a fourth straight term and the BJP looking to build on its previous gains to capture power.In 2021, the Congress failed to open its account. This time, it is attempting to convert the largely bipolar Trinamool vs BJP contest into a triangular one.Polling for the 294-member assembly will be conducted in two phases, with counting scheduled for May 4.<\/div>\n\n