Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a forceful attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal on 1 January, accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of leaving the state unsafe and mismanaged. Speaking to party workers in Kolkata he said the TMC slogan “Maa, Maati, Manush” has not delivered safety or prosperity and pledged that the Bharatiya Janata Party will win the upcoming state election in 2026.
West Bengal 2026 election outlook
Mr Shah identified three areas where he said the state government had failed: law and order, land governance and corruption. He alleged that women are unsafe, land has fallen under mafia control and large scams have undermined public trust. He listed a number of high-profile allegations including teacher recruitment irregularities, municipal recruitment scams, and misuse of welfare schemes.
The Union minister also raised the issue of alleged infiltration, saying it posed both an economic burden and a security risk. He claimed the state administration had promoted infiltration to build a vote bank and promised that a BJP government would act to secure borders and address migration within months.
Addressing workers from the four districts that make up the Kolkata Metropolitan area, Mr Shah hailed the dedication of party karyakartas who, he said, have made sacrifices over many years. He urged activists to convert that effort into electoral gains in the West Bengal 2026 election and predicted a two-thirds majority for the BJP.
Senior BJP leaders attended the event, including state party president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav. Mr Shah highlighted recent BJP gains nationwide, citing victories in Odisha, Sikkim, Haryana and Maharashtra as evidence of growing support for the party.
Mr Shah also criticised the state government for allegedly not implementing central schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat and Kisan Samman Nidhi. He said residents had been denied benefits by what he described as deliberate discontinuation, and he accused the state leadership of engaging in excessive appeasement politics.
Political analysts say the BJP is intensifying its campaign in West Bengal by focusing on governance and security themes that resonate with its base. The party’s strategy appears to combine national-level achievements with local grievances to broaden appeal ahead of the 2026 ballot.
Opposition leaders, including Ms Banerjee, have defended the state government’s record and called many of the BJP’s claims politically motivated. The contest is likely to remain highly charged as both parties mobilise supporters across urban and rural constituencies.
With the West Bengal 2026 election now a focal point for both state and national politics, the coming months are expected to see intensified campaigning, rallies and competing narratives on governance, security and welfare. The outcome will be closely watched for its implications for regional politics and the balance of power at the national level.
Key Takeaways:
- Amit Shah accuses the Mamata Banerjee government of failing on security, corruption and public services ahead of the West Bengal 2026 election.
- The Union Home Minister vowed that a BJP government will remove alleged infiltrators and restore central schemes.
- BJP leaders framed the contest as the culmination of a decade-long struggle and promised a two-thirds majority.
