Take east: On the BJP government in West Bengal
Bharatiya Janata Party
’s victory in West Bengal has long been in the making. In power for three consecutive five-year terms, the
Trinamool Congress (TMC) had been degenerating by the day while the BJP built itself up, vote by vote, aided by all the levers of power that it could exercise as the ruling party at the Centre. The party won 207 of the 294 Assembly seats; in 2021 it had 77. Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, will be the new Chief Minister
. He defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her own constituency, Bhabanipur — marking the second time that he has prevailed over her, after Nandigram in 2021. Popular dissatisfaction over jobs, corruption, governance and law and order undermined the TMC, which increasingly relied on violence and coercion to keep the State under its thumb. The West Bengal teacher recruitment scam eroded public trust in the TMC, and the R.G. Kar rape and murder case was a major inflection point. Ms. Banerjee first lost control of governance — which was never complete even at the beginning — and then lost control of the narrative. In 2021, her claim to be the protector of Bengali identity against a BJP perceived as the promoter of a Hindi heartland project had worked in her favour. That regional identity politics weakened as its principal champion sank into chaos and degeneration.
The BJP’s strategy has been evolving over the years under the direct supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who spent several weeks in the State through the campaign. The party expanded its capacity at the booth level across rural Bengal through a decade of sustained work, building on its strong performance in the 2019 general election and its 2021 Assembly showing. The party had its own identity politics capable of countering the TMC’s Bengali identity politics. BJP politics in the State was constructed on intense, contentious debates around citizenship, migration and Hindu consolidation — all tied to controversial administrative measures such as the tailored
Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and changes to the
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
. The CAA was deployed as a mobilisation tool, particularly among Matua and other refugee communities. The BJP’s gains flowed from a consolidation of Hindu votes alongside a decisive split in the TMC’s Muslim support base. Now that the party has created history in West Bengal, the governance challenges before it cannot be overstated. The targeted assassination of a key aide of Mr. Adhikari and violence that has gripped many parts of the State, are instructive. The State needs a new vision for development and progress, but the restoration of law and order is the most urgent priority of all.
- 1The West Bengal election underscores the dynamic interplay between state and central power in India's federal structure. The BJP's leveraging of 'levers of power' from the Centre highlights how national parties can influence state politics, potentially blurring the lines of federal autonomy. The emphasis on 'Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls' and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) also brings to the fore constitutional debates around citizenship rights, electoral integrity, and the Election Commission of India's role in ensuring free and fair polls. This outcome reflects a significant shift in political landscape, challenging established regional hegemonies.
- 2While primarily a domestic election, the West Bengal outcome has broader implications for India's internal political geography. The BJP's successful deployment of a national identity politics, centered on citizenship and Hindu consolidation, against a regional identity narrative, demonstrates a strategic shift in electoral battles. This approach, particularly leveraging the Citizenship Amendment Act, can impact demographic patterns and inter-community relations, potentially influencing India's standing on human rights and minority protection globally. The victory further solidifies the BJP's pan-India presence, reshaping the national political map.
- 3The editorial highlights critical legal and regulatory challenges, including the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam and the R.G. Kar rape and murder case, which significantly eroded public trust. These instances underscore the imperative for robust anti-corruption mechanisms, transparent recruitment processes, and effective law enforcement to uphold the rule of law. The contentious nature of the Citizenship Amendment Act and 'tailored' electoral roll revisions also raises questions about legal fairness, due process, and the potential for administrative measures to be politicized, necessitating vigilant judicial oversight and regulatory adherence.
- 4Public dissatisfaction over jobs, corruption, and governance was a decisive factor in the Trinamool Congress's defeat, emphasizing the electorate's demand for tangible development and accountability. The BJP's strategy of Hindu consolidation and mobilization of refugee communities through the Citizenship Amendment Act illustrates the potent role of identity politics in shaping social cohesion and electoral outcomes. The post-election violence and the assassination of a key aide underscore deep-seated social divisions and the urgent need for the new government to prioritize economic development, social harmony, and the restoration of law and order to address the underlying causes of unrest.