Suvendu Adhikari Raises 'Har Ghar Bhagwa Chhaega, Ram Rajya Aaega' Slogan in West Bengal Campaign

BJP leader accuses TMC of corruption and exploitation as Bengal heads for two-phase assembly polls on April 23 and 29, with results on May 4.

Suvendu Adhikari's Campaign Pitch  

Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and BJP candidate from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, struck a strong note during election campaigning on Wednesday. He declared that the public is ready for change and raised the slogan “Har ghar bhagwa chhaega, Ram Rajya aaega”.

Adhikari targeted the ruling Trinamool Congress, calling its leaders “brokers” who have been exploiting the people of Bengal for years. He alleged widespread corruption under the Mamata Banerjee government and claimed that while citizens celebrate Bengali New Year, the Chief Minister appears disconnected from public sentiment.

TMC Faces Heat Over Governance Issues  

The BJP has intensified attacks on the TMC, accusing it of failing to deliver on basic issues like law and order, employment, and welfare. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while campaigning, alleged that tea garden workers in Bengal continue to face poverty and neglect despite central funds reaching other sectors in neighbouring states. She questioned why the TMC government has not ensured fair wages for these workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing BJP workers under the ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’ initiative on Tuesday, highlighted rising violence and an atmosphere of fear in the state. He pointed to youth unemployment and government employees approaching courts for justice as signs of administrative failure.

Voter List Row Intensifies  

Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of deleting over 90 lakh names from voter lists as part of a conspiracy to influence the polls. BJP leaders, including Sukanta Majumdar, rejected the charge and said any deletions fall under the responsibility of state officials such as BDOs and SDOs working under the TMC administration.

Anurag Thakur hit back at Banerjee’s claims, alleging that the TMC provides shelter to wrongdoers. He coined the phrase “4 May aaegi, Mamata Banerjee jayegi”, referring to the counting day when results of the West Bengal assembly elections 2026 are expected.

Delimitation Debate Echoes in Tamil Nadu  

Parallel developments in Tamil Nadu have added a national dimension to the campaign discourse. Chief Minister MK Stalin convened an emergency meeting of DMK MPs and district secretaries to discuss the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise. He described it as possible “punishment” for southern states’ contribution to India’s progress and called for black flag protests.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran stated that all DMK MPs will vote against the delimitation bill and wear black attire in Parliament. Congress leader KC Venugopal acknowledged genuine concerns among southern and smaller states over changes in representation based on the latest census.

BJP leaders, including K Annamalai, dismissed Stalin’s remarks as routine politics and expressed confidence in the NDA’s prospects in Tamil Nadu, where polling is scheduled for April 23.

Background of High-Stakes Polls  

West Bengal’s 294-member assembly will go to polls in two phases — 152 seats on April 23 and 142 on April 29 — with vote counting on May 4. The TMC has been in power since 2011, while the BJP has steadily expanded its footprint in the state.

The campaign has seen sharp exchanges over voter rights, central funds, and governance. Home voting for elderly and persons with disabilities is underway in districts like Jhargram to ensure smooth participation.

Impact on Voters and Political Landscape  

These developments come amid heightened public interest in governance, development, and political accountability. Issues like women’s reservation, linked to delimitation, have also drawn comments from leaders across parties, with some welcoming the 33 per cent quota while questioning its timing with the bill.

Analysts note that the coming days will test the TMC’s hold in its stronghold against a resurgent BJP pushing for a regime change. Public fatigue with alleged corruption and law and order concerns could play a key role.

What Lies Ahead  

With just over a week left for the first phase of voting, both sides are expected to intensify door-to-door campaigns and rallies. The Election Commission has put in place measures for free and fair polls, including heavy security deployment.

The outcome on May 4 will shape not only Bengal’s political future but also influence broader national debates on federalism and representation. For the latest updates on West Bengal assembly elections 2026 and other India news today, developments continue to unfold rapidly.

Mamata Banerjee Files Nomination from Bhabanipur as Bengal Poll Battle Heats Up

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday filed her nomination papers from the Bhabanipur assembly constituency in Kolkata, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest against BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in the upcoming state elections. The move comes amid growing tensions between the Trinamool Congress and the Election Commission over voter list revisions and official transfers.

High-Profile Clash in Kolkata Seat

Bhabanipur, a traditional TMC stronghold in south Kolkata, has emerged as one of the most watched constituencies in the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls. Mamata Banerjee, who has represented the seat in the past, arrived at the Survey Building to submit her papers. Shortly after filing, she addressed supporters, extending greetings across communities and pledging to work not just for Bhabanipur but for every corner of the state.

“I extend my greetings, my thanks, my respects, my salaam, my Jai Jinendra and Sat Shri Akaal to everyone. Today, as I filed my nomination, I want to say that along with the Bhabanipur constituency, I will work for every centre and every area. We will form the government,” Banerjee said.

Suvendu Adhikari Named BJP Candidate

The BJP has fielded Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, from the same seat. Adhikari, a former TMC leader who switched sides and defeated Banerjee from Nandigram in 2021, filed his nomination earlier on April 2. The direct contest between the two senior leaders has turned Bhabanipur into a symbolic battleground for urban and political dominance in Bengal.

TMC Delegation’s Tense Meeting with CEC

Meanwhile, a TMC delegation led by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien met the Chief Election Commissioner on Wednesday morning to raise concerns over the transfer of officials and the conduct of free and fair polls. The meeting lasted barely five minutes and ended on a sour note.

O’Brien later claimed that the CEC told the delegation to “get lost” within seven minutes. “The meeting started at 10:02 AM and ended at 10:07 AM. When we told him that you are transferring officials, and how you would want to conduct a free and fair election? And then he said, leave from here,” O’Brien alleged.

ECI Urges Decorum, Denies Allegations

Election Commission sources, however, countered the claim, stating that O’Brien was asked to maintain decorum in the Commission room. Officials described the behaviour as inappropriate and clarified that shouting is not acceptable during such meetings. The poll panel has repeatedly vowed to ensure fear-free elections in West Bengal, which is scheduled to vote in two phases on April 23 and April 29.

Massive Voter List Revision Sparks Row

The controversy comes days after the Election Commission released the final voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Nearly 91 lakh names — about 11.85 per cent of the electorate — were deleted from West Bengal’s rolls since the exercise began last November. Of these, over 27 lakh were removed after judicial scrutiny of cases placed under adjudication.

The deletions have reduced the state’s electorate significantly, from around 7.66 crore to roughly 6.75 crore. TMC leaders have questioned the timing and scale of the revisions, while the Commission maintains the process was aimed at cleaning up the rolls and removing ineligible entries.

Broader Poll Landscape in Eastern States

As activity intensifies in Bengal, polling preparations are in full swing in other states going to the polls shortly. Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry are set to vote in a single phase on April 9, with campaigning concluding on Tuesday evening. EVMs and polling materials have already been dispatched to booths across these regions.

In Tamil Nadu, senior DMK leaders including Chief Minister MK Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin continued their campaign trail on Wednesday, highlighting welfare schemes such as housing for over 10 lakh people and free laptops for students.

Opposition Voices and Campaign Rhetoric

BJP leaders, meanwhile, have kept up their attack on the TMC government. Senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stressed the need to restore Bengal’s identity, while other candidates raised issues of law and order and women’s empowerment. The party released its sixth list of candidates for the state recently.

The Trinamool Congress has accused the poll body of bias and demanded a level playing field. The Election Commission has dismissed such charges and called for all parties to cooperate in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

What Lies Ahead for Bengal Voters

With nominations underway and the model code of conduct in force, the focus now shifts to campaigning and ground-level mobilisation. The Bhabanipur contest is expected to draw national attention as a test of strength between Banerjee and Adhikari. Larger issues such as voter list accuracy, official neutrality, and development promises will dominate the narrative in the days to come.

The final electoral rolls are now frozen, and the stage is set for what promises to be a fiercely fought assembly election in West Bengal. Both the ruling TMC and the BJP are leaving no stone unturned to consolidate their support bases ahead of the crucial polling dates in late April.

Modi Fires Bengal Poll Salvo From Cooch Behar's Ras Mela Ground

BJP's 'Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha' marks PM's first campaign rally in West Bengal since assembly elections were announced; TMC governance, law and order in crosshairs

BJP Opens Bengal Battle

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday formally launched the Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign in West Bengal, addressing a massive 'Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha' at the Ras Mela grounds in Cooch Behar — a district that has steadily emerged as one of the party's most reliable strongholds in the state's north.

The rally, scheduled at 4:15 pm, marked the PM's first election meeting in the state since poll dates were officially announced. It also constituted his fourth public meeting at the same Ras Mela grounds, having previously addressed gatherings there during the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha campaigns and the 2021 assembly polls.

TMC's Record on Trial

During the rally, Modi was expected to outline BJP's vision for a "developed West Bengal", highlight issues raised in the party's recently released 'People's Chargesheet' against the ruling Trinamool Congress, and press hard on governance failures, law and order deterioration, and allegations of corruption.

Party leaders framed the event as more than an electoral opener. According to a BJP statement, the Prime Minister's visit was "centred on transitioning West Bengal from an era of systemic 'bhoy' (fear) to a future of 'bhorosa' (trust)", and the rally was described as "a definitive launchpad to replace the chronicle of betrayal with a commitment to security and growth."

North Bengal: The Saffron Citadel

Cooch Behar was not an arbitrary choice. In the 2021 assembly elections, BJP won 30 of the 54 seats in north Bengal, with Cooch Behar contributing seven of the nine seats from the district. The region has delivered consistently for the party across electoral cycles, and BJP is keen to consolidate those gains with boots on the ground well before the April 23 first phase of polling.

Among the development projects highlighted in the district is a Rs 1,010-crore city gas distribution initiative, which party functionaries have been projecting as evidence of the Centre's commitment to the region.

Last Bengal Visit: March 14

Modi had last visited the state on March 14, when he addressed a major rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, marking the culmination of BJP's statewide 'Parivartan Yatra' campaign. During that visit, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for infrastructure and connectivity projects worth approximately Rs 18,680 crore, including national highway developments valued at around Rs 16,990 crore, covering over 420 kilometres of road projects.

Campaign Machine Rolls On

The April 5 rally is set to be followed by a series of public meetings, roadshows, and organisational programmes by senior BJP leaders across the state ahead of the polls, as the party gears up for what it has described as a final push for a decisive mandate in Bengal.

Meanwhile, TMC has been mounting its counter-offensive. West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim, contesting from Kolkata Port constituency, warned that a BJP government in the state could damage local culture. "Hatred in politics is very wrong," he said, adding that the party's focus remained on development and direct engagement with voters.

Two-Phase Vote, May 4 Count

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly will be held in two phases — on April 23 and April 29 — with votes counted on May 4. The contest is shaping up as a direct, high-decibel clash between the BJP's national machinery and the TMC's incumbent organisational depth, with north Bengal expected to be among the most hotly contested stretches of the electoral map.

What to Watch Ahead

With Modi's Bengal poll campaign now officially underway, the coming days will see an escalating battle of narratives. BJP's central leadership — including Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda — is expected to intensify its presence across the state. TMC, for its part, will rely heavily on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's personal campaign, with the CM herself contesting from Bhabanipur.

The Cooch Behar rally has set the tone: governance failures, alleged corruption, and the promise of a "fear-free" Bengal are expected to remain the core of BJP's message through the final weeks of campaigning before the West Bengal assembly elections 2026.

The Bharatiya Janata Party released its first candidate lists for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala, naming 144 nominees for Bengal and 47 for Kerala. The announcement, made within 24 hours of the Election Commission declaring the poll schedule, signals that the BJP is wasting no time in building momentum for what promises to be one of the most fiercely contested election seasons in recent years.

Suvendu's Bold Double Challenge to Mamata

The biggest headline from the Bengal list is the decision to field Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari from not one but two constituencies — Nandigram and Bhabanipur. Both seats carry deep political significance. Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram during the 2021 Assembly elections in one of the most closely watched political battles the state had seen. Banerjee later returned to the Assembly through a by-election from Bhabanipur, a seat she has represented since 2011.

Bhabanipur is considered Banerjee's political stronghold, and Adhikari's candidature from that constituency is widely seen as the party's most high-stakes decision in the first list, underscoring his role as BJP's principal field commander in Bengal. It is an unmistakable message — the BJP intends to take the fight directly to the Chief Minister's doorstep.

A Diverse and Deliberate Bengal List

Beyond Suvendu, the Bengal list is notable for the range of candidates it brings together. Former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh has been fielded from Kharagpur Sadar, former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta from Rashbehari, former India cricketer Ashok Dinda from Moyna, and actor Rudranil Ghosh is also among the nominees.

Of the 144 nominees, 57 come from fields such as teaching, law, medicine, social work and the armed forces. Teachers account for the largest group with 23 candidates, alongside advocates, doctors, retired military personnel, journalists and cultural personalities. The party has also included 41 sitting MLAs and three former legislators, choosing to back its existing political networks rather than attempt a wholesale reshuffle.

Kerala: A State the BJP Wants to Crack

In Kerala, the BJP named state president and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar as its candidate from Nemom in Thiruvananthapuram district — the only Assembly constituency the BJP has ever won in the state, securing the seat back in 2016.

Other senior leaders fielded include former state chief K Surendran from Manjeshwar, former Union minister V Muraleedharan from Kazhakootam, Union Minister of State George Kurian from Kanjirappally, and senior leader Sobha Surendran from Palakkad. Among women candidates, the party has nominated former DGP R Sreelekha from Vattiyoorkavu, Padmaja Venugopal from Thrissur, and Navya Haridas from Kozhikode North.

Though the BJP is yet to win an Assembly seat in Kerala at scale, recent wins in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency and Thiruvananthapuram municipal polls have boosted its confidence heading into 2026.

The Election Schedule

West Bengal will vote in two phases — April 23 and April 29 — with vote counting for all states on May 4. Kerala, along with Assam and Puducherry, goes to the polls in a single phase on April 9. The Election Commission noted that reducing West Bengal to two phases, compared to eight in 2021, was a deliberate decision to make the process more convenient and manageable for all stakeholders.

What It Means

The speed with which the BJP released these lists — before most other parties had even begun internal deliberations — reflects a party that has learned from past election cycles and is determined to control the early narrative. In Bengal, the challenge is to unseat a Chief Minister who has won three consecutive terms and commands a formidable grassroots machinery. In Kerala, the goal is humbler but no less symbolic — to move from fringe player to credible force in a state dominated by the Left and the Congress. Both battles will define the BJP's 2026 story.