'People Gripped By Fear, Corruption, Infiltration': Amit Shah Takes On Mamata, Predicts BJP Victory In 2026 Bengal Elections

Kolkata: As Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Kolkata to finetune the BJP's poll campaign in the state ahead of the crucial West Bengal assembly elections, he teared into the Trinamool Congress saying that in the 15 years of Mamata Banerjee-led government's rule, the people of Bengal are not only gripped by fear, but also apprehensive due to corruption, misgovernance, and infiltration.

"In the last 15 years of the TMC government in Bengal, the state has seen fear, corruption, misgovernance and worry among its citizens due to infiltration. All beneficial schemes started by Modi have become victims of the toll syndicate here. Fear and corruption have become West Bengal's identity for the last 14 years," Shah said speaking at a presss conference in Kolkata.

The Union Home Minister assured that to save the country's culture, a government should come to power in the state that seals the borders of Bengal and only the Bharatiya Janata Party is in a position to guarantee that.

“Infiltration from the Bengal border is not just Bengal's issue; it is a matter of national security. To save the country's culture, to ensure the country's security, a government will have to be brought in that seals Bengal's borders. TMC cannot do this; only BJP can do it,” Shah said.

Shah announced the formation of a national grid to keep infiltrators out of the border and assured action against each infiltrator illegally residing in West Bengal.

"Leave humans, even birds cannot fly in. That will be the strength of the grid. We will not only stop the infiltration of illegal immigrants. We will ensure that each infiltrator is ousted from the country," he said.

Pointing at the dramatic electoral rise of the BJP's footprint in West Bengal in recent years, Shah underlined that the saffron party has grown from three seats in the 2016 Assembly elections to 77 seats in a span of five years in 2021 Assembly elections.

“In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, we received 17 percent of the votes and two seats in Bengal. In the 2016 Assembly elections, we received 10 percent of the votes and three seats. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, we received 41 percent of the votes and 18 seats. In the 2021 Assembly elections, we received 38 percent of the votes and 77 seats. The party that had only 3 seats went on to secure 77 seats in a span of five years,” he said.

Shah also assured that given the trend of the BJP forming government one after another in multiple states following the 2024 General Elections, he said the the saffron party will form the government in West Bengal with two-thirds majority.

“In 2024, Shri Narendra Modi became Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. After that, BJP governments were formed in Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, and now Bihar. In Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as well, BJP and the NDA have formed governments. I am fully confident that in 2026, the BJP will form the government in West Bengal with a two-thirds majority. The people of Bengal have already made up their mind,” he said.

Doubling down on Mamata Banerjee for allegedly creating obstacles for the Centre to check infiltration, the Union Home Minister said, “I have written seven letters to Mamata Banerjee on the issue of fencing (along India-Bangladesh border). In the last 6 years, the Home Secretary has visited West Bengal thrice and held meetings with the State Chief Secretary. Which government refuses to provide land for border fencing? I will answer it myself. It is your government, which does not give land for border fencing. I then want to ask why infiltrators enter Bengal first. What are your patwaris and police stations doing? Why are these infiltrators not sent back? Can the Bengal government explain why infiltration has been stopped in Assam and Tripura?”

Shah also attacked the Trinamool Congress saying that it has no intention of checking infiltration because it wants to expand its own vote bank at the cost of changing the state's demography.

“It is happening only in Bengal because this is taking place under your watch. You want to change Bengal’s demography to expand your vote bank,” he said.

The senior BJP Minister also claimed that the TMC did not favour a discussion on Vande Mataram in the Parliament because it would upset their vote bank.

“The TMC opposed the discussion of Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Babu in the House, which became the inspirational anthem of the freedom movement. This is because supporting the discussion of Vande Mataram would anger TMC's vote bank,” he said.

Shah said that people in West Bengal have resolved to elect the BJP to power in the upcoming assembly elections to revive their state's legacy while also focusing on development and 'Gareeb Kalyan' (welfare of the poor).

Pointing out the significance of December 30, he said, "December 30 is the day of pride for Indians since, on this day in 1943, Bengal's son Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian flag in Port Blaire. It is also a crucial time for Bengal, starting today until April, as the state will hold assembly elections. People in Bengal have resolved to elect a strong government that brings them legacy, development, and welfare instead of (a government that has brought) fear, corruption, misgovernance, and infiltration."

"We want to assure and promise to the citizens of West Bengal that as soon as the BJP government is formed in the state, we will revive Bengal's legacy and will develop the state. We will also prioritise the welfare of the poor. We have given priority to Gareeb Kalyan elsewhere too," he added.

West Bengal is set to have its Legislative Assembly elections in 2026. Amit Shah's visit comes amid the Trinamool Congress's opposition to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in the state. SIR is expected to play a key issue in Bengal's political campaign ahead of the Assembly polls.

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