Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the West Bengal and Assam assembly elections, calling it a “theft” of the mandate and urging opposition parties to rise above political differences.

In a post on X, Gandhi also came out in support of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which was defeated by the BJP in West Bengal, and cautioned against celebrating the loss of a regional rival. “Some in the Congress, and others, are gloating about TMC’s loss. They need to understand this clearly—the theft of Assam and Bengal’s mandate is a big step forward by the BJP in its mission to destroy Indian democracy,” he said.

“Put petty politics aside. This is not about one party or another. This is about India,” Gandhi added, framing the election outcome as a broader challenge to democratic institutions.

The BJP ousted the All India Trinamool Congress from power in West Bengal and retained Assam for a third consecutive term, according to results declared on Monday.