By In a notable recalibration of its political messaging, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has signalled a direct outreach to Muslim voters months before the Assembly elections. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Saturday addressed party workers from the Minority Morcha in Kolkata, arguing that the Trinamool Congress government has failed to improve the socio-economic condition of Muslims despite enjoying their consistent electoral backing.
The remarks mark a strategic shift for the BJP in West Bengal, where the party has traditionally struggled to secure minority support. For over a decade, Muslims — who constitute roughly 27% of the State’s electorate — have overwhelmingly voted for the Trinamool Congress. Bhattacharya’s speech suggested the BJP now wants to challenge that consolidation head-on.
Addressing party workers, Bhattacharya claimed that Muslims in West Bengal have borne the brunt of political violence in the State. Without citing official data, he argued that factional clashes and localised conflicts have disproportionately impacted minority-dominated areas. “In several places, political rivalry has turned violent, and ordinary Muslim families suffer the consequences,” he said, alleging that such incidents reflect governance failures rather than communal tension.
He further contended that while the BJP faces organisational hurdles in certain pockets — including difficulties in fielding candidates or erecting party flags — internal feuds within ruling party circles continue to destabilise communities. The implication was clear: the BJP intends to position itself as an alternative political platform rather than an adversary to minority voters.
Acknowledging that Muslims have not traditionally voted for the BJP in West Bengal, Bhattacharya said it was time for introspection within the community about what tangible progress had been achieved under Trinamool’s rule. He argued that electoral arithmetic based solely on community consolidation would not guarantee long-term political dominance.
The outreach comes against the backdrop of internal debates within the BJP after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the party’s tally in West Bengal dropped from 18 to 12 seats. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had then publicly questioned the party’s messaging strategy. However, on Saturday, Bhattacharya asserted that the BJP does not view politics through the lens of “majority versus minority,” adding that the Minority Morcha exists to bridge divides rather than reinforce them.
Economic concerns formed a major part of the BJP’s pitch. Bhattacharya claimed that unemployment among Muslim youth remains high, forcing many to migrate for work. He criticised what he described as unequal access to quality education, alleging that while poorer families depend on madrasa education, political elites ensure their own children attend premier institutions.
Separately, Suvendu Adhikari attacked the State Budget, accusing the Trinamool Congress government of failing to generate employment. He described the newly announced “Banglar Yuva Sathi” allowance scheme as inadequate and alleged that earlier employment-linked programmes had quietly lapsed without fresh allocations.
Political observers say the BJP’s renewed engagement with Muslim voters reflects recognition that expanding its social coalition is essential to mounting a serious challenge in the Assembly polls. Whether the outreach translates into measurable electoral gains, however, will depend on sustained engagement beyond campaign speeches.
