Buoyed by a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set its sights on West Bengal, vowing to unseat Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2026 state polls. Senior BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar, declared that the “Delhi win is a precursor to Bengal’s turn,” signaling an aggressive campaign to challenge Banerjee’s decade-long rule. Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, emphasized that the BJP’s success in Bengali-dominated areas of Delhi reflects a growing momentum that will translate into votes in Bengal.
The BJP’s confidence stems from its recent electoral strategy of course correction. After setbacks in the 2021 Bengal Assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party claims to have rectified mistakes and consolidated its voter base. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted that the BJP’s vote share in Bengal has hovered between 30-40% since 2019, and an additional 10% could tilt the scales in its favor. “In 2026, we will form the government,” he declared, citing anti-incumbency against the TMC and the BJP’s focus on central welfare schemes.
However, the TMC dismissed the BJP’s claims as premature. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh retorted that Mamata Banerjee would secure a fourth term as Chief Minister with over 250 seats, reducing the BJP’s presence to a “token opposition.” Ghosh highlighted the TMC’s track record of defeating the BJP in three consecutive elections since 2019, including the 2021 state polls where the TMC won 213 of 294 seats. He also criticized the BJP’s reliance on “empty promises,” referencing Adhikari’s sudden endorsement of welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, which he had earlier opposed.
The BJP’s strategy hinges on leveraging anti-TMC sentiment over issues like alleged corruption, post-poll violence, and controversies such as the Sandeshkhali sexual assault case and the RG Kar Hospital doctor’s murder. Adhikari accused the TMC of shielding criminals and vowed to “avenge injustices” if elected. The party also plans to capitalize on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) grassroots mobilization, with experts noting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent 10-day stay in Bengal as a strategic move.
Meanwhile, the TMC’s silence on the Delhi results has raised eyebrows. A senior TMC leader privately admitted that the AAP’s defeat weakens the anti-BJP INDIA bloc, complicating efforts to present a united front ahead of the 2026 polls. The BJP, however, remains undeterred. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in an earlier rally, framed the 2026 election as a mission to “free Bengal from infiltration and misgovernance,” promising a two-thirds majority.
As political temperatures rise, Bengal braces for a high-stakes battle where history, rhetoric, and ground realities will collide. With the BJP’s Delhi triumph fueling its ambitions and the TMC doubling down on its regional dominance, 2026 could redefine the state’s political landscape—or reinforce its existing loyalties.
