BJP's Nitin Nabin Expresses Confidence in Forming First Government in West Bengal
BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Thursday voiced strong confidence that the party will establish its inaugural government in West Bengal, where assembly elections are scheduled for April 23 and 29. Nabin highlighted the party's remarkable surge in the 2021 state assembly poll, where it secured 77 seats—a dramatic increase from just 3 in 2016—and achieved a 38% vote share, marking its best-ever performance in the state.
Political Growth and Challenges in West Bengal
"We are definitely going to form our government there... Where were we in Bengal in 2016, and where were we in 2021? Political rivalry is visible in Bengal. Despite this, we have been steadily growing and have reached 38% of the vote share... BJP has steadily strengthened its roots in Bengal," Nabin told ANI in an exclusive interview. The 2021 results positioned the BJP as the primary challenger to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC). However, post-election, several BJP legislators, including some who had defected from the TMC, returned to Banerjee's party.
Electoral Dynamics and Controversies
In the 2024 general elections, the BJP's Lok Sabha tally in West Bengal declined to 12 out of 42 seats, down from a record 18 in the previous election. The lead-up to the upcoming assembly polls has been dominated by the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which resulted in the removal of 91 lakh voters. This move prompted the TMC to allege foul play and question the ECI's transfer of bureaucrats and IPS officers in the state.
The Trinamool Congress has cited these transfers to accuse the BJP and ECI of collusion, though the poll panel typically oversees state machinery during the model code of conduct. On the SIR issue, Nabin stated, "If you bring in illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, we will definitely raise the issue. Have we ever removed anyone's name arbitrarily? But if illegal immigrants from Bangladesh try to obtain citizenship through wrongful means, action will be taken. More such actions will follow in the coming time."
Future Prospects and Political Statements
Nabin added, "Mamata Banerjee should not worry. We will take care of the people of Bengal. She has only been concerned about Bangladeshis so far." Banerjee, who led the TMC to power in 2011 for its first term, is aiming for a fourth consecutive term. A total of 152 of the 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal will vote in the first phase, with the remaining seats going to polls in the second phase. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
The political landscape in West Bengal remains highly competitive, with the BJP leveraging its recent gains and the TMC defending its longstanding dominance. As election day approaches, both parties are intensifying their campaigns, focusing on key issues such as immigration, governance, and electoral integrity.
