Swati Maliwal: TMC corruption to pave BJP's path to Bengal win
Synopsis
With West Bengal vote counting days away, senior BJP leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have gone all-in on a victory prediction, squarely blaming TMC's alleged corruption and hooliganism for what they believe will be a historic political shift in Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal predicted BJP victory in West Bengal, citing TMC's alleged "corruption and hooliganism." Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan cited strong anti-incumbency against the Trinamool Congress government over misgovernance and appeasement politics.
West Bengal BJP In-charge Mangal Pandey pointed to high voter turnout in both phases as evidence of public desire for change.
Pandey predicted the "lotus will bloom in West Bengal on May 4 " with a double-engine government to follow.
BJP also expressed confidence of retaining Assam and Puducherry , with strong NDA performance expected in Kerala and Tamil Nadu .
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday, 30 April expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win the West Bengal Assembly elections, attributing the party's prospects to what she described as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government's "corruption and hooliganism."
Maliwal's Ground Assessment
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Maliwal said she had interacted with journalists and locals in West Bengal before making her prediction. "I have spoken to people on the ground in West Bengal, including journalists and locals, and they are saying BJP is winning there. It will win in Bengal because Trinamool has been involved in hooliganism and corruption," she said.
The Rajya Sabha MP also cited the Modi government's track record as a contributing factor. "Along with that, the good work done under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership is also a major reason why BJP is set to win in West Bengal," Maliwal asserted. She also expressed confidence that BJP is certain to win across all five states and Union Territories where Assembly elections have been conducted.
What Union Minister Pradhan Said
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan echoed the optimism, telling reporters that West Bengal is heading for a "major change" for the first time in a long period. "There is strong anti-incumbency against the current Trinamool Congress government in Bengal due to their misgovernance, appeasement politics and corruption," Pradhan said.
He added: "The people of West Bengal are reposing their faith on the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the policies of the BJP. I am confident that there will be a government change in the state." Pradhan also expressed confidence of retaining power in Assam and Puducherry, while predicting strong NDA performance in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
BJP's Bengal In-Charge Cites Voter Turnout
West Bengal BJP In-charge Mangal Pandey pointed to high voter turnout across both phases of polling as a signal of public mood. "It is very clear that the public wants to uproot and throw away this 'ruthless' government," Pandey said.
He further asserted that voters in Bengal had cast their ballots for development under Prime Minister Modi's leadership. "The lotus will definitely bloom in West Bengal on May 4 and a double-engine government will be formed," Pandey added, referring to the BJP's election symbol and its pitch for aligned state and central governments.
What Happens Next
Counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled for May 2, with results expected to determine whether TMC retains power or BJP makes its most significant electoral breakthrough in the state. All statements from BJP leaders remain pre-result claims and have not been independently verified by ground surveys cited in the public domain.
Point of View
Pradhan, and Pandey, all converging on the same anti-corruption narrative. Whether that narrative translates into seats is another matter: TMC's organisational machinery in Bengal has historically outperformed opposition predictions. The real story will be whether BJP can convert its 2019 Lok Sabha gains — 18 seats — into the 148-plus it needs for a majority, a gap that ground-level anecdotes alone cannot bridge.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Swati Maliwal say about the West Bengal elections?
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal predicted that BJP will win the West Bengal Assembly elections, attributing it to the Trinamool Congress government's alleged corruption and hooliganism, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance record.
When are the West Bengal election results expected?
Vote counting for the West Bengal Assembly elections is scheduled for May 2, with results expected to be declared the same day.
What did Dharmendra Pradhan say about West Bengal?
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said there is strong anti-incumbency against the TMC government due to misgovernance, appeasement politics, and corruption, and expressed confidence that BJP will form the government in West Bengal.
What did Mangal Pandey say about voter turnout in Bengal?
West Bengal BJP In-charge Mangal Pandey cited high voter turnout in both phases of polling as a clear signal that the public wants to remove the TMC government, predicting the BJP's lotus symbol will bloom on May 4.
Which other states did BJP leaders express confidence about?
Apart from West Bengal, BJP leaders expressed confidence of retaining power in Assam and Puducherry, and predicted strong NDA performance in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
