‘Throw TMC into Bay of Bengal’: Amit Shah calls for fearless voting; BJP-TMC clash erupts at Adhikari’s Bhabanipur nomination
The Statesman | 3 April 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called on voters in West Bengal to cast their ballots without fear and remove the Trinamool Congress (TMC) from power in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The BJP leader was speaking at the nomination filing of senior party leader Suvendu Adhikari, which also saw a scuffle between BJP and TMC workers, underlining tensions on the ground as the polls approach.
Addressing supporters, Shah said voters should not feel intimidated. “This time, no one should fear; no goon can stop the voters of Bengal. Everyone must vote without fear to uproot and throw TMC into the Bay of Bengal,” he said.
He made a direct appeal to voters in Bhabanipur, the constituency from where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting, urging them to support Adhikari. Shah said the BJP wants to build a “Sonar Bangla” and accused the ruling party of being affected by corruption.
“I appeal to the Bengal people to help Suvendu Adhikari win this election… We want to make ‘Sonar Bangla’, and this is why we need to defeat TMC,” he said.
“There will be a change in West Bengal. But you want a change in Bhabanipur or not? I have come here to appeal for your votes for our candidate Suvendu Adhikari,” he said.
Shah also referred to the BJP’s governance record at the Centre since 2014, saying people who trusted Prime Minister Narendra Modi have seen development. He urged voters to help the BJP form the government in the state, adding that Banerjee would face defeat.
Beginning his speech with the slogan “Jai Shree Ram,” Shah said there was a growing sentiment across Bengal for a change in government. He also announced that he would stay in the state for 15 days to campaign.
Earlier, Suvendu Adhikari said, “Mamata Banerjee is going to lose.”
Adhikari, the BJP candidate from Bhabanipur Assembly constituency and Leader of Opposition in the state, filed his nomination for the West Bengal elections. He is also contesting from Nandigram.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, Banerjee lost Nandigram to Adhikari but later won the Bhabanipur by-election against Priyanka Tibrewal.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
In the previous Assembly elections in 2021, held in eight phases, the Trinamool Congress secured a sweeping victory with 213 seats, while the BJP won 77 seats. Congress and the Left Front failed to win any seats.