BJP launches simultaneous 2026 polls campaign in north Bengal
The Statesman | 22 July 2025
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday demanded that a special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls be conducted in West Bengal, similar to the ongoing process in Bihar.
Addressing a rally at Chunavatti near Uttarkanya — the state’s branch secretariat in north Bengal — as part of the BJP’s Uttarkanya Cholo Abhiyan, Mr Adhikari said: “We want the same kind of special electoral roll revision in Bengal as is being carried out in Bihar.”
Striking a sharp political note, Mr Adhikari assured the audience that Hindus who came from Bangladesh would be treated as refugees and must be enrolled in the electoral roll during the SIR process. “There is no need for Hindus from Bangladesh to fear deletion of their names. There is also no need for Indian Muslims — Rashtravadi Muslims to worry. But Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims will not be allowed to register as voters,” he said.
Raising an emotive pitch, Mr Adhikari asked the crowd: “Are the Rajbanshis not Hindus?” urging them to consolidate against the Trinamul Congress government in the upcoming Assembly election.
Siliguri MLA and chief whip of the Assembly, Sankar Ghosh, also addressed the gathering, claiming that over 1.5 crore “ghost voters” were currently on the electoral rolls in West Bengal. “We are fighting for a ‘Clean voter list to ensure a clean government’ in 2026,” he said.
Monday’s rally, organised by the BJP’s youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, marked the unofficial launch of the party’s campaign for the 2026 Assembly election. With slogans like “chhabbish er nirbachan, Trinamul er bisarjan” (2026 election would mark the ouster of Trinamul), the BJP sought to counter the TMC’s Martyrs’ Day show of strength held in Kolkata the same day.
In a significant development, the police—following a high court order—permitted a political rally for the first time on the Asian Highway 2 in front of Uttarkanya. The BJP hailed this as a symbolic victory, especially in north Bengal, where it has a strong support base.
The rally also saw a distinct religious tone in speeches, underlining the party’s strategy to consolidate its Hindu vote-bank in northern parts of the state. Senior BJP leaders claimed the turnout and response marked a successful beginning to their electoral campaign.
Several prominent leaders, including former MPs Nisith Pramanik, Arjun Singh, Dashrath Tirkey, and current MPs Dr Jayanta Roy and Manoj Tigga, were present.
Suvendu Adhikari, in his trademark aggressive style, attacked chief minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her administration corrupt and alleging that her party workers gathered at Dharmatala, were “tainted with scams.” He again vowed to defeat her in the next election, asserting, “She will be an ex-chief minister.”
The rally also focused on issues such as unemployment, lack of industrialisation, and poor healthcare infrastructure. Mr Adhikari criticised the state government for failing to allocate land for an AIIMS in north Bengal.
The BJYM state president, Dr Indranil Khan highlighted rising insecurity for women, citing incidents at RG Kar Hospital, Kasba law college, and other parts of the state. he alleged that TMC leaders involved in corruption were now “attacking women” across West Bengal.