BJP picks Union minister, Tripura ex-CM to oversee Bengal polls
The Statesman | 26 September 2025Former Tripura chief minister and MP Biplab Deb will assist him in Bengal. The decision comes as the BJP tries to regain ground after setbacks in recent elections. Despite contesting aggressively, the party fell short in the 2021 Bengal Assembly polls and saw its 2024 Lok Sabha performance dip compared with 2019. Party leaders said Yadav’s organisational experience will be crucial as the BJP looks to mount a fresh challenge against the Trinamul Congress (TMC). The BJP has been pushing to expand its base in the state since 2017, when then-party president Amit Shah declared the goal of forming governments in West Bengal, Kerala and Odisha. Since then, the party has invested heavily in Bengal, bringing in national leaders, reshuffling its state unit and strengthening grassroots presence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah are expected to increase their frequency of visits to Bengal ahead of polls. Shah is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday night to inaugurate Durga Puja celebrations. He also recently met Leader of Opposition in Bengal Suvendu Adhikari to review preparations. The ruling TMC has also begun gearing up for the electoral battle. Party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has been holding a series of strategy meetings with district leaders, signalling that the contest will be hard-fought. Alongside Yadav’s assignment in Bengal, the BJP has tapped Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to steer preparations for elections in Bihar, likely to be held in November, and senior parliamentarian Baijayant Panda to manage the campaign in Tamil Nadu.
