Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday set an ambitious target for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, predicting a government with a two-thirds majority in the 2026 state assembly elections. During a detailed interaction with journalists in New Delhi, Shah outlined the party's resolve to end infiltration and restore the state's "lost glory," while directly addressing fears within the crucial Matua community.
Roadmap for Bengal: Stopping Infiltration and Restoring Glory
Amit Shah declared that the BJP has resolved to form the government after the April 2026 polls. He asserted that development has stalled in the state, which has instead become identified with fear and corruption under the current Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule. "We will uproot Trinamool Congress," Shah stated emphatically. He traced the BJP's dramatic rise in Bengal's political landscape, from holding just two Lok Sabha seats and a 17% vote share a decade ago to securing 18 parliamentary seats in 2019 and 77 assembly seats in the 2021 state elections.
Shah pointed out that traditional rivals, the Congress and the CPI(M), have been "reduced to zero." Confident of the BJP's growing footprint, he noted the party achieved a 36% vote share in 2021 and is now aiming for a decisive victory. The upcoming election, he said, will be fought squarely on the issues of "stopping infiltration and driving infiltrators out."
Assurances to Matuas and Accusations Against TMC Government
In a significant move to placate the influential Matua community, Shah addressed their anxieties regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Election Commission's special revision of electoral rolls. He revealed that he spoke with Bongaon MP and Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur on Monday to provide assurances. Shah categorically stated that no member of the Matua community would lose their voting rights or citizenship. "Matuas have no reason to be afraid. Refugees who came to Bengal are citizens of India and nobody can harm them - not even Mamata Banerjee," he affirmed. BJP officials estimate that out of nearly 1.5 crore Matuas in Bengal, roughly 70,000 have applied for citizenship under the CAA.
The Home Minister launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led state government, accusing it of actively enabling infiltration. He claimed the TMC administration has blocked the construction of border fencing by refusing to allot land to the Border Security Force (BSF), despite him having sent seven letters on the matter. "Infiltration is happening on Mamata Banerjee's watch. Forged documents are being prepared. Demography is changing to strengthen her vote bank," Shah alleged.
Corruption and Core Poll Issues
Shah further targeted the TMC over a series of alleged corruption scandals, naming several senior party leaders including Partha Chatterjee, Jyotipriya Mallick, and Anubrata Mandal, while also alluding to allegations against Firhad Hakim and Sovan Chattopadhyay. "Yet Didi says there is no corruption," he remarked sarcastically. He also raised concerns about women's safety in the state, claiming people are advised not to venture out after 7 PM.
Urging the electorate to give the BJP a chance, Shah sought to shift the political discourse away from religious divisions. He termed politics over "mandir and masjid" a distraction and identified the core issues for the 2026 battle as women's safety, corruption, jobs for the youth, and the flight of industries from Bengal.
