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According to sources, Shah issued clear instructions to party leaders: the focus must shift decisively to retaining ground in Bengal, regardless of the national electoral schedule
Noting the rise in crimes against women in the past five years, Shah has instructed MPs to highlight women’s issues more prominently. (PTI)
In a significant move signalling the BJP’s preparation for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, Union home minister Amit Shah chaired a crucial meeting on Monday with senior MPs and key organisational leaders of the party. With SIR (Special Intensive Revision) and the issue of illegal Bangladeshi infiltration high on the agenda, the meeting is being viewed as a turning point in the BJP’s Bengal strategy.
According to sources, Shah issued clear instructions to party leaders: the focus must now shift decisively to retaining ground in Bengal, regardless of the national electoral schedule. Even if national politics moves on its own course, Bengal must not be lost, Shah reportedly told the gathering.
Shah emphasised that party presence must reach down to every booth. Each constituency’s voter rolls must be carefully scrutinised, and every BJP worker must be involved in that process. The message was clear: “We have the votes—now we must ensure they reach the booths.”
With potential SIR implementation on the horizon, senior leaders were briefed on how to coordinate if and when these begin. Booth-level workers will play a critical role in countering any narrative and maintaining grassroots momentum.
Noting the rise in crimes against women in the past five years, Shah has instructed MPs to highlight women’s issues more prominently, both in Parliament and on the ground.
Leaders were also reminded to effectively communicate BJP’s work for SC/ST communities and the benefits delivered by the central government’s welfare schemes. Shah stressed that awareness of these projects must reach common people as all efforts must now be channelled toward winning in 2026, party insiders confirmed.
The minister added that the party must clarify its stand on Bengalis to counter the Opposition’s narratives. The BJP must clearly convey that it is not anti-Bengali, but against illegal infiltration. “Our message must be firm but sensitive,” a senior leader said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah are expected to visit Bengal almost every month as part of a phased high-level outreach campaign. Local leaders have already received directions to organise public programmes to increase mass connect.
Learning from the missteps of the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP leadership has asked for better coordination with grassroots workers and local committees, particularly on sensitive issues like SIR, migration, and regional identity.
Party sources confirmed that awareness campaigns have already been rolled out, and new committee formations will reflect lessons from the past. With this aggressive push, the BJP appears determined to reshape its Bengal narrative and avoid a repeat of 2021’s disappointment.
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East…Read More
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting from East… Read More
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