Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a large gathering of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at Science City auditorium in Kolkata on Wednesday, setting the tone for the party’s campaign in the Bengal elections 2026. He identified trans-border infiltration and corruption as the core issues his party will press with voters and urged cadres to believe in a decisive victory.
Bengal elections 2026 strategy from Amit Shah
Shah told party workers to “write this in your heart” and declared the BJP would secure a two-thirds majority, aiming to win in at least 20 of West Bengal’s 28 districts. He framed the contest as a choice about security and governance, warning that unchecked infiltration and entrenched corruption would damage the state’s social fabric and economy if not addressed immediately.
Addressing the ground-level workers, Shah said the danger of infiltration was “particularly clear and imminent” and suggested that urban residents would soon witness what he described as the consequences. He asked party workers to carry a two-pronged message to voters, focusing on alleged weaknesses in law and order and on corrupt practices that, he said, had been institutionalised in the state.
In practical directives to his legislators, Shah urged BJP MPs to make regular visits to their constituencies and asked MLAs to remain stationed in their areas for at least four days a week. A senior party official who attended the meeting said Shah also warned that nominations would be reconsidered on the basis of performance, signalling a merit-based approach to candidate selection.
After the meeting, Shah visited the Thanthaniya Kali Bari temple near College Street, a visit that underscored the political ritual of seeking public and cultural connection during election season. His remarks also took aim at the state party’s longstanding slogan “Maa Maati Manush”. Shah argued that the slogan’s themes were under threat: he said women’s safety was at risk, workers were migrating for lack of jobs, and land was being occupied by infiltrators.
The Trinamool Congress reacted swiftly. State vice-president JP Majumdar dismissed the BJP’s claims as empty promises and predicted that national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would visit the state but fail to change the outcome. Majumdar said the BJP would not win more than 50 seats, recalling the party’s defeats in recent state contests.
Political analysts note that Bengal’s electorate has shown volatility in recent years, and national parties often recalibrate strategies well in advance of voting. Shah’s emphasis on law and order and on local presence seeks to convert national-level narratives into a focused state campaign. How voters respond to arguments about security and governance will shape the run-up to the 2026 polls.
With both parties sharpening their rhetoric, the coming months are likely to see intensified campaigning, targeted outreach in rural and urban pockets, and closer scrutiny of candidate lists as both sides position themselves for the state election.
Key Takeaways:
- Amit Shah frames trans-border infiltration and corruption as the central issues for the Bengal elections 2026.
- He urged BJP workers to target at least 20 of the state’s 28 districts and promised a two-thirds majority.
- Shah instructed MPs and MLAs to stay active in their constituencies, with nominations tied to performance.
- Trinamool Congress dismissed the claims, calling them false promises ahead of the polls.
