Rahul Gandhi's Kolkata Visit Revoked Amid Administrative Row

In a significant development ahead of the critical West Bengal elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Kolkata, initially planned for April 23, has been called off. Party officials confirmed the cancellation, attributing it to the local administration's refusal to grant the necessary permissions for the event.

The Congress party has alleged that the denial of permission was orchestrated at the behest of West Bengal's ruling Mamata Banerjee-led government. The party claims that despite waiting until 6:00 PM for administrative clearance, the local police did not grant the requisite permissions, thus disrupting their logistical arrangements.

Efforts are underway to reschedule the visit, with a fresh request submitted for April 25 or 26. The move comes as West Bengal is poised for a high-stakes election, featuring a contest between the incumbent Trinamool Congress and the BJP, alongside Congress and the Left Front allies vying for influence after a poor showing in 2021.

(With inputs from agencies.)