By Amit Shah Says 2026 Will Mark End of Trinamool Rule in Bengal
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is aiming for over 50 per cent vote share in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, expressing confidence that the party would form the next government with a decisive majority.
However, unlike previous election campaigns, Amit Shah avoided setting a specific seat target, a shift seen by political observers as a strategic recalibration following earlier electoral shortfalls.
‘TMC Ta-Ta, Bye-Bye’: Amit Shah’s Message to Workers
Addressing a BJP workers’ meeting in Barrackpore, North 24-Parganas, Amit Shah said 2026 would be the year to bid farewell to the ruling Trinamool Congress.
“Mamata Didi, we now have to move from 38 per cent to 45 per cent vote share. This time, you will see the BJP crossing 50 per cent votes and coming to power with a thumping majority,” Amit Shah said.
He further alleged that governance in the state had collapsed, declaring that the BJP was ready to take charge of Bengal.
TMC Dismisses Claim, Cites Past Misses
Trinamool’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee dismissed Amit Shah’s remarks as motivational rhetoric aimed at energising BJP cadres, pointing to the party’s failure to meet earlier seat projections.
Before the 2021 Assembly elections, Amit Shah had predicted the BJP would win over 200 of 294 seats, but the party secured only 77 seats. Similarly, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah claimed the BJP would win 35 of Bengal’s 42 seats, though it eventually won just 12.
Why BJP Is Focusing on Vote Share, Not Seats
Sources within the BJP said repeated overestimation of seat numbers had demoralised grassroots workers, prompting the leadership to now focus on vote share as a more credible metric.
A senior BJP leader said even 45–46 per cent vote share could translate into over 180 Assembly seats, while a 50 per cent vote share would likely push the party past 200 seats.
Amit Shah Highlights BJP’s Growth in Bengal
Shah cited past election data to bolster morale among party workers:
- 2014 Lok Sabha elections: BJP won 2 seats
- 2019 Lok Sabha elections: 41% vote share, 18 seats
- 2021 Assembly elections: 38% vote share, 77 seats
- 2024 Lok Sabha elections: 39% vote share
He also noted that since the 2024 general elections, the BJP has come to power in states such as Haryana, Odisha, Delhi, and Bihar, and said West Bengal is the party’s next major target.
Experts Call 50% Target Aspirational
Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty described the 50 per cent vote share claim as ambitious rather than realistic, aimed at energising party workers ahead of a long campaign.
According to him, reaching 45–46 per cent vote share itself would be challenging and would require significant consolidation of Hindu votes. However, he added that the BJP could still win the election with 42–43 per cent vote share if the Trinamool’s minority support base fragments.
Fresh Allegations Against TMC Leadership
During his speeches in Barrackpore and Siliguri, Amit Shah also accused Mamata Banerjee’s “nephew” of facilitating illegal immigration, intensifying the political confrontation ahead of the 2026 polls.
