Kolkata, April 23: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin made a bold declaration on Thursday following the conclusion of West Bengal Assembly Election Phase 1 voting, stating that the evening's sunset symbolically signals the political end of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Speaking to reporters in Khardaha, where he participated in a roadshow ahead of Phase 2 polling, Nabin expressed strong confidence in the BJP's electoral prospects across the state.

Nabin's Bold Sunset Metaphor Against TMC

BJP President Nitin Nabin did not mince words after Phase 1 concluded, declaring: "Today's sunset marks the end of Trinamool Congress." He framed the high voter participation as a direct mandate by the people of West Bengal against the ruling TMC government.

"As I have been saying from the beginning, the way the people are coming out to vote, this time it is the people of West Bengal who are contesting the elections and they are being led by the BJP," Nabin told IANS.

His remarks echoed a similar sentiment expressed earlier by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who posted a video of a setting sun on social media platform X, captioning it: "The sun of the TMC's corruption and hooliganism has set." The coordinated messaging signals a deliberate BJP communication strategy to frame Phase 1 results as a turning point.

Record Voter Turnout Fuels BJP Optimism

The West Bengal Phase 1 polling percentage reached a remarkable 89.93% by 5 PM on Thursday — the highest recorded in the state in the last 15 years, since 2011. BJP leaders have been quick to interpret this unprecedented turnout as anti-incumbency against the TMC-led state government.

Nabin said, "The people of West Bengal have voted today with great enthusiasm and it is something to be immensely proud of. The public has voted for Bengal's safety and progress."

Political analysts note that historically in West Bengal, high voter turnout has often correlated with strong opposition sentiment. The 2021 Assembly elections saw similarly elevated figures, though TMC ultimately swept those polls — a precedent that complicates the BJP's optimistic reading of Thursday's numbers.

Women's Safety at the Core of BJP's Campaign Narrative

Nabin sharpened his attack on the TMC government by invoking the issue of women's safety — a theme that has resonated deeply across West Bengal in recent months, particularly in the aftermath of high-profile crimes that drew national attention.

"The government that came with the slogan of 'Maa-Mati-Manush', despite having a woman Chief Minister, has hurt the sentiments and safety of women," Nabin said, in a pointed reference to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

He added that the mothers and sisters of West Bengal are "not in a mood to forgive the Trinamool Congress" and that "when the mothers and sisters come together, they do bring a complete change." This framing is significant — the BJP has consistently targeted TMC on law and order, particularly regarding crimes against women, making it a central electoral plank.

TMC Activists Disrupt BJP Roadshow in Khardaha

The political temperature was evident on the ground as well. During BJP Chief Nabin's roadshow in Khardaha, Trinamool Congress activists reportedly raised slogans in the middle of the event, reflecting the fierce competition in the constituency ahead of Phase 2.

Nabin responded calmly to the disruption, saying: "There is such a large public gathering here. The people are on the streets. Good wishes to them (Trinamool Congress) too." His measured response was a calculated display of confidence, projecting the BJP as the dominant force on the ground.

BJP Projects Two-Third Majority — What Comes Next

Setting an ambitious target, BJP President Nabin declared: "The Bharatiya Janata Party, the NDA, will form the government here with a two-third majority." Such a majority would require the BJP-led alliance to win approximately 200 of the 294 Assembly seats in West Bengal — a historic feat for the party in the state.

This comes amid a broader national context where the BJP has been aggressively expanding its footprint in eastern India, viewing West Bengal as a critical political frontier. The party's vote share in the state has grown substantially from single digits in the early 2010s to over 38% in the 2021 elections, signalling a steady but contested rise.

With Phase 2 polling now imminent and the remaining phases yet to unfold, all eyes will be on whether the record turnout in Phase 1 translates into actual seat gains for the BJP — or whether TMC's formidable ground machinery once again converts voter enthusiasm into a different outcome at the ballot box.