• Source:JND

West Bengal 2026: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah published a 'charge sheet' against the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government, sharpening the BJP's campaign pitch for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026. He asserted that the poll battle is not merely for the state, but for the country's security, referring to the illegal Bangladeshi immigrant issue.

"The security of the entire country is inextricably linked to the outcome of the Bengal elections. Only one route remains through which infiltrators enter the country, compromising national security. Therefore, the Bengal election is vital for Bengal in many respects. The BJP has resolved to give voice to the public's grievances against the Trinamool Congress regime," Shah said while speaking to the media in Kolkata.

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The BJP leader repeatedly linked the issue to what he described as the TMC's "appeasement and vote-bank politics," accusing the state government of obstructing efforts to strengthen border management. Shah alleged that the Mamata government had not provided land for border fencing despite repeated requests from the Centre.

 Mamata Fortress Remained Invincible In Modi-Shah Era

West Bengal is among the very few states that remained invincible for the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah's leadership. Despite huge allegations of corruption-related cases against the Mamata government, the TMC managed to outmanoeuvre the saffron party in the last few state elections. In the Modi-Shah era, the BJP managed to win 3 seats in the 2016 West Bengal Assembly election. But, in 2021, the BJP amazed everyone by jumping to 77 seats.

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This election, the BJP’s ‘Chanakya’, Shah, set “abki baar, 200 paar” target in the 294-seat poll battle, citing strong anti-incumbency and corruption charges in Bengal. Now, the question is what is behind Shah's confidence?

Here Are Five Probable Factors That May Go In Favour Of The Saffron Party:

1. Inti-incumbency: The BJP believes that it is high time to dislodge the TMC government, as Mamata's party has been in power since 2011 and is facing anger from a section of people over moderate performance on the economic front. Throughout the last 15 years, the BJP has kept raising issues such as corruption, extortion, unemployment, deteriorating law and order, and Muslim appeasement. The saffron party, once considered a minnow in the state, emerged as the second largest as the popularity of Mamata reduced over the year. Several of Mamata's ministers, including Partha Chatterjee, Jyotipriya Mallick, Anubrata Mondal, and Kunal Ghosh, had to go to jail in cases related to corruption. BJP alleges that 'cut money' (Commission) prevailed at every level in the government. The opposition alleged that a culture of corruption has paralysed the state's economy, which strengthened the anti-government sentiments across the states.

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2. Strong Consolidation of Hindu Vote: Over the years, the BJP succeeded in influencing the secular voters of the Left and Congress, with a blend of Hindutva and nationalism. The BJP cadres are often seen raising 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans at party events. BJP's poster boy Suvendu Adhikari, who is locked in a poll battle in the Bhabanipur constituency against the chief minister, often alleged that Banerjee protects Bangladeshi Muslims. Recently, Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator, Humayun Kabir, added trouble for Mamata by initiating construction work of a Babri Masjid replica in Banga, Murshidabad district. Banerjee's stand on Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025 and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) provided ammo to the saffron party to polarise the election.

3. Matua (Namashudra) Community: In the last one decade, PM Modi and his party leaders have held outreach initiatives to woo the Matua (Namashudra) community, and as a result, their support shifted to the saffron party. They may influence the results of 60-65 seats. The community expresses their support with the BJP in both the 2021 assemly polls and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP also attempting to penetrate the Scheduled Castes(SC) and Other Backward Classes voters, riding on the Centre's welfare schemes.

4. BJP's Organisational Strength: Over the years, the saffron party expanded its cadres at the booth level and launched a Hindutva-focused campaign. The upward graph of the party shows that the BJP can bank on Hindutva ideology in the state to win Mamata's fortress.

5. Direct Benefits of Central Schemes: PM Modi instructed Bengal BJP leaders to promote the Centre's prime welfare schemes, like PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and Kisan Samman Nidhi. PM Modi promised industrialisation, employment, and making Bengal a "Sonar Bangla", which is attracting the youth and middle class.


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