Accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal of “state-sponsored infiltration” and claiming that women in the state were not safe, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday exhorted party workers to begin preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections to “oust the TMC from power”.
Addressing two events – one in the border district town of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district and another, a BJP membership drive in Kolkata – Shah hit out at the TMC over alleged corruption in the state, cow smuggling racket and incidents of assault on women in Sandeshkhali, and R G Kar rape and murder.
Shah, in his first visit to West Bengal after the Lok Sabha polls and upcoming bypolls in November, said: “In Bengal, where Rabindra Sangeet used to be heard in the morning, sounds of bombs going off is heard everywhere now. In Bengal, state-sponsored infiltration is going on… (there is) corruption in the hiring process, health sector and rations along with cut money and syndicates. To get rid of it and build a Sonar Bangla (golden Bengal) as envisioned by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the people of Bengal need to elect a BJP government in 2026.”
Urging party leaders and cadres to enroll one crore people into the BJP, Shah said: “Bengal has to be saved from the terror of communists and (CM) Mamata (Banerjee). The only way out is to form a BJP government in 2026… Save Bengal from coal thieves, job corruption, health sector corruption, cut money syndicate corruption. One crore people must be made members of the BJP.”
“The only way to kick corruption, infiltration out of Bengal is by bringing BJP to power,” he said.
Raising questions on women’s safety in the state, the BJP leaders said “don’t let Sandeshkhali, R G Kar happen again in Bengal”, and promised protection of women if BJP came to power in the state.
Reminding BJP workers about the party’s disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections – the party’s seats dropped to 12 from 2019’s 18 – Shah exhorted them to prepare for the 2026 Assembly polls.
“BJP members’ count have crossed 10 crores in the country. It started late in Bengal, but we are sure we will cross 1 crore… Our target is a BJP government in West Bengal in 2026. Don’t be afraid, don’t fear anyone. In many such states we have ousted the incumbent governments,” the Union Minister said.
“If the number of BJP members in West Bengal crosses 1 crore, what will happen to the Trinamool? Mamatadi, think about it now,” he added.
“Don’t forget, we are a party that has gone from two seats to 370 seats and has taken steps like the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Of the state elections held in 2024, we have won more than 50 per cent. We have won in Haryana and we will win in Jharkhand and Maharashtra,” he said.
“After that, our next big target in 2026 is winning in Bengal and forming the next government with a two-thirds majority,” the BJP leader added.
Earlier in the day, while inaugurating a new passenger terminal building and a cargo gate ‘Maitri Dwar’ at Petrapole land port bordering Bangladesh, Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed to the development of West Bengal.
“Bring in change in West Bengal in 2026. (We) will put an end to infiltration and ensure peace in the state”, Shah said.
He also said, “In establishing peace in the region, land ports play an important role. When there is no scope for the legal movement of people across the border, illegal modes of movement arise, which impacts the peace of the country…There can be peace in Bengal only when infiltration stops.”
Shah alleged that a major portion of the funds sent by the Centre to West Bengal was “usurped due to corruption” in the state. “Compare to what the UPA had given to West Bengal during its rule with the 10 years of the NDA since 2014. During the UPA regime, the state had got Rs 15,000 crore under MGNREGA but this had gone up to Rs 54,000 crore during the NDA rule. More funds are being given to the state by the NDA under schemes like PMGSY and PMAY among others,” Shah said.
He said that during the UPA government’s 10 years, Bengal received only Rs 2,09,000 crore, whereas Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has provided Rs 7,74,000 crore in the last 10 years.
Instead of going to the beneficiaries, the “money goes to the TMC leaders”, he alleged. —With PTI Inputs
Amit hah targets Rahul
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the Opposition’s reading of the Lok Sabha election results.
Pointing out that while the Congress is celebrating its performance in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA has secured a third consecutive term.
“Rahul Gandhi claimed in Parliament that they defeated us in the elections, and I don’t understand why his allies don’t make him understand that those who win take the oath of Prime Minister and those who lose sit in the opposition benches. If you count the number of seats that the Congress has won since 2014, it won’t touch 240. If you combine the seats of all the allies of Congress this time, it still will not touch 240. But still, they are claiming they have defeated us,” Shah said.
The BJP has secured 240 seats in this year’s Lok Sabha elections, down from over 303 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. —ENS