BJP eyes historic Bengal win in Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's birthplace
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
As trends issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) showed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in West Bengal on Monday, 4 May, senior party leaders declared that this could mark the first time the BJP forms a government in the state — the birthplace of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. The BJP is widely recognised as the political successor of the Jana Sangh.
BJP Leaders React to Early Trends
BJP MP Vinod Tawde called the anticipated victory in Bengal pivotal for national security. "BJP's victory in Bengal is crucial for the country's security," he told IANS, asserting that a regime change in the state would have broader national implications. "There will be no place for appeasement politics. People of West Bengal have said that one cannot win with fake promises," he added.
Tawde also highlighted what he described as a shift in the conduct of elections in the state. "For the past many years, no election was conducted in West Bengal without any murder. But that has been made possible this time. I think the entire country is happy about this thing," he said.
BJP's Expanding Footprint: The '25 States' Claim
Tawde projected that with wins in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, the BJP would now govern 25 states. "This is a good step towards 'Viksit Bharat 2027,'" he said. The claim signals the party's ambition to consolidate its national footprint ahead of future electoral cycles.
What the Party Said About the Mandate
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh framed the early trends as a public endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This mandate of the people is for PM Modi so that he can keep working for the poor and take India to greater heights. 'Maa, Manush and Mati' have wholeheartedly blessed PM Modi," Chugh told IANS.
He further argued that the verdict was a repudiation of the incumbent administration in Bengal. "It is because all three — 'Maa, Manush and Mati' — were left sobbing during Mamata Banerjee's reign. The land was red with the blood of its children. The people were suffering atrocities," he said.
BJP Takes Aim at Congress and Rahul Gandhi
Chugh also targeted the Indian National Congress (Congress), noting its trailing position in West Bengal, Assam, and Pondicherry. "The results are proof that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is going to lose the next 100 elections as well," he said. The remarks reflect the BJP's broader effort to position these results as a national referendum on the opposition's credibility.
With official results still being tallied, all figures cited are based on early ECI trends. The coming hours will determine whether the BJP's historic Bengal ambition translates into a confirmed majority.