Amit Shah's Core Team Scripts Historic BJP Sweep in Bengal  

Strategic day-night campaign and RSS groundwork deliver 206-seat majority, ending TMC's 15-year rule

In a landmark shift in West Bengal's political landscape, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, winning around 206 seats and crossing the two-thirds majority mark. The triumph ends the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) 15-year dominance under Mamata Banerjee and marks the first time a non-Left, right-of-centre party forms the government in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah emerged as the central architect of this transformation. Sources familiar with the campaign said Shah spent over 15 days in the state, turning the election into a meticulously planned mission. By day, he addressed rallies and roadshows; by night, he pored over seat-specific data with a tight-knit team.

Shah's Hands-On Micro-Management

Party insiders describe Shah's approach as a blend of high-energy public outreach and granular booth-level oversight. He is believed to have conducted more than 50 rallies and roadshows across key regions. A five-member core team of central leaders worked alongside him, focusing on real-time feedback, candidate selection, and resource allocation.

This dual strategy — visible momentum on the ground paired with behind-the-scenes seat-by-seat reviews — proved effective in converting long-standing discontent into votes. Issues like the teachers' recruitment scam, the RG Kar hospital incident, and allegations of violence in areas such as Sandeshkhali resonated strongly, particularly among women and the urban middle class.

RSS: The Quiet Force Behind the Surge

Complementing the BJP's high-profile campaign was nearly 15 years of sustained groundwork by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). What began with around 530 shakhas in 2011 has grown to over 2,500 branches today, with 583 added in the past year alone.

Ahead of polling, the organisation facilitated more than one lakh small meetings, focusing on hyper-local outreach rather than large public events. Volunteers emphasised trust-building, especially in sensitive pockets.

Key elements of the Sangh's approach included:

- Providing support to victims of post-2021 violence through financial aid, legal help, and direct access to leadership.  

- Encouraging women in areas like Sandeshkhali to speak out via sustained dialogue.  

- Cultural integration efforts linking local icons such as Swami Vivekananda and Subhas Chandra Bose with broader narratives of development and identity.  

- Booth-level confidence-building to ensure voters could cast ballots without fear.  

- Connecting everyday governance failures to larger concerns of safety and future opportunities.

This invisible hand helped expand the BJP's reach into rural, semi-urban, and even some traditional TMC strongholds.

Ground Realities and Voter Sentiment

Counting trends on May 4-5 showed the BJP making deep inroads, including in several Muslim-majority areas, though the shift was more pronounced among other demographics. High voter turnout in phases held on April 23 and 29 reflected widespread desire for change after years of reported political violence and corruption scandals.

Local celebrations erupted in BJP-leaning neighbourhoods across Kolkata and districts like North and South 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, and parts of North Bengal. Many residents spoke of a sense of relief and expectation for improved law and order and development.

TMC leaders, including Mamata Banerjee who retained her seat, alleged irregularities, but the Election Commission is yet to comment formally on such claims.

What Lies Ahead

With results clear, attention now shifts to government formation. Amit Shah has been named the BJP's central observer for West Bengal to facilitate the election of the legislative party leader. The swearing-in is expected around May 9.

Senior leaders like Suvendu Adhikari, currently Leader of Opposition, along with others such as Dilip Ghosh and emerging faces, are among those discussed for key roles. The party has so far avoided projecting a single chief ministerial candidate during the campaign.

The victory is being seen as a significant boost for the BJP nationally, demonstrating its ability to crack entrenched regional strongholds through persistent organisation and strategic leadership. For West Bengal, it signals the start of a new political chapter after a decade and a half of TMC rule.

How the new dispensation translates campaign promises into governance — particularly on women’s safety, employment, and curbing political violence — will define the coming months. For now, the focus remains on the remarkable journey that brought the BJP from 77 seats in 2021 to a commanding majority in 2026. 

Bengal Phase 2 Campaign Ends, EC Orders Action Over Mamata Caricature

Polling for 142 seats across West Bengal tomorrow as security forces tighten grip; TMC and BJP trade allegations in final stretch.

The high-decibel campaign for the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections came to a close on Monday evening, with all eyes now on tomorrow’s voting across 142 constituencies. The outcome is expected to determine which way the political winds blow in a state that has seen a bitter, no-holds-barred fight between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In the final 24 hours before polling, the Election Commission stepped in with a sharp directive. Police have been ordered to take strict action over an obscene cartoon targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that surfaced on social media.

EC steps in over offensive post

The TMC flagged a screenshot of the post, alleging it was shared by a BJP supporter from Uttar Pradesh. Party workers described the caricature as “vile and insulting.” Following a formal complaint by Nilanjan Das, the Bidhannagar cyber cell has started probing the account. The EC’s swift order, issued late Monday, directed police not to delay action.

Mamata’s Kolkata roadshow draws crowds

Undeterred by the controversy, Banerjee hit the streets for a final push. She led a 6-km roadshow from Sukanta Setu to Gopalnagar Crossing in south Kolkata, drawing large crowds that snaked through the evening traffic. The show of strength was aimed at consolidating the party’s core base in the crucial South Bengal belt.

Over 1,500 arrested, bombs found

Polling day preparations have been shadowed by recurring violence. A CISF jawan was injured after firing broke out outside a BJP candidate’s residence in Bhatpara, North 24 Parganas. Four people, including a local councillor, have been arrested. In Howrah, eight crude bombs were recovered from a polling booth premises.

Acting on EC directives to ensure peaceful voting, police have arrested 1,543 people across the state. Among them is TMC councillor Naru Gopal Bhakta from Purba Bardhaman, accused of attacking a BJP leader’s house. Authorities have also seized illegal items worth over ₹510 crore, including ₹30 crore in cash and a significant quantity of liquor and drugs.

Rijiju sees ‘wave’, TMC cries bias

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed that a strong wave is building for the BJP, asserting that voters see his party as the only credible alternative. “The state has been destroyed under TMC rule,” he said, adding that the BJP aims to make West Bengal a growth engine again.

The TMC, meanwhile, questioned the neutrality of a police observer deployed in South 24 Parganas, calling the move politically biased. Party candidate Jahangir Khan was seen in a viral video being warned by UP IPS officer Ajay Pal Sharma over alleged voter intimidation. Khan responded with a threatening tone: “You may have started the game, but we will finish it.”

Border movement restricted, CCTV in place

Movement through the Petrapole land port and other Bangladesh border routes has been restricted ahead of tomorrow’s voting. Officials confirmed that robust security measures, including live CCTV monitoring and central force deployment, are in place, especially in sensitive zones like Sandeshkhali, which witnessed alleged atrocities in 2024.

With the TMC fighting to retain its dominance in its South Bengal stronghold and the BJP banking on Matua and refugee votes in North 24 Parganas, tomorrow’s polling is expected to be a test of which party can turn out its base under the shadow of central forces.