In a state long dominated by the Communists, Mamata Banerjee emerged as a beacon of hope for the people of West Bengal. Today, the BJP is striving to establish itself in a region where it once had little presence.
Over the years, the BJP has strengthened its position in Bengal, surpassing the Communists and emerging as the main opposition and an alternative to the TMC. Yet, the party still seems to lack the “final thrust” required to secure an outright electoral victory.
The key differentiator between the two parties lies in organizational strength. While the BJP has achieved national success through a robust grassroots network, in Bengal it is the TMC that dominates this space, largely due to Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and the de facto ruler of the state. Abhishek has confidently claimed that the TMC will win every booth he campaigns in.
The BJP’s struggle in Bengal is particularly interesting given the long-standing presence of the RSS in the state. The party’s rise in Bengal has been significantly aided by the RSS, but recent enthusiasm within the organization for active political work appears to have waned. During Mohan Bhagwat’s recent visit to Bengal, he met only with RSS functionaries.
Despite this, there are signs of renewed coordination between the BJP and RSS following the last Lok Sabha elections. A unique arrangement seems to have emerged: both organizations will operate independently while pursuing the shared goal of bringing the BJP to power. Meanwhile, the BJP leadership has increased engagement with district-level leaders to strengthen the party at the grassroots.
With Bengal’s elections still 8–12 months away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited the state three times in the past two months. While a year may seem short in political terms, the critical question remains: will it be enough for the BJP to finally capture the “booths of Bengal”?
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