Kolkata, 8 July (H.S.) -

Newly appointed West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya launched a scathing attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing it of surrendering to religious fundamentalists and enabling a “silent demographic invasion” in the state. He asserted that the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections will be a decisive battle for the identity and survival of Bengali Hindus, and vowed that the BJP will never allow Bengal to turn into an “Islamic Republic” or “West Bangladesh”.

“This is not just a political contest,” Bhattacharya said on Tuesday, shortly after assuming office. “It’s a struggle for identity, existence, and cultural survival. Bengali Hindus are facing an existential crisis, and only the BJP is standing in their defence.”

Known as a culturally rooted Bengali ‘bhadralok’ and a Rajya Sabha MP, Bhattacharya accused the TMC of compromising Bengal’s pluralism for vote-bank politics. He alleged that the ruling party has bowed down to fundamentalist forces and opened the doors to unchecked infiltration since the 1980s. “We have been warning of this silent demographic shift for decades. If we don’t act now, the fate of Bengali Hindus could mirror that of Hindus in Bangladesh,” he warned.

Clarifying that the BJP is not anti-Muslim, Bhattacharya appealed to liberal and nationalist Muslims to join the BJP’s mission against radicalism and appeasement politics. “We are against those who choose stones and swords over books and pens,” he said.

Bhattacharya questioned what the Muslim community had actually gained under TMC rule, claiming that nearly 90 percent of recent political violence victims in the state were Muslims. “TMC has used them as a vote bank but done little for their genuine upliftment,” he said.

Responding to TMC’s frequent branding of BJP as an outsider party, Bhattacharya said, “No one has a monopoly over Bengali culture. The BJP stands with every Bengali who dreams of dignity and development. We don’t need lectures on secularism or culture from the TMC.”

He accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of using religion selectively to serve political ends. “She moved from invoking Maa Kali to now talking about Lord Jagannath, but the underlying strategy of appeasement remains unchanged,” he alleged.

Bhattacharya, who is 61 years old, dismissed any speculation about ideological divisions within the party, especially between the moderate and hardline factions. “There is no conflict between a so-called Delhi line and a Bengal line. The party stands united in its belief in inclusive nationalism without appeasement,” he said.

He praised Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari as a “natural leader”, adding that there was no friction between the old and new guard in the state unit. “The founding generation laid the groundwork for the BJP in Bengal. The new generation must honour that legacy, just as the old must embrace the need to induct fresh leadership for the party to grow.”

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Focus on Economic Revival and Ground Organisation

Bhattacharya emphasized that the BJP’s agenda was not limited to cultural and identity politics but also included a vision for economic revival and industrial growth. “Bengal’s economy is in shambles. Industries have collapsed, and our youth are migrating in search of jobs. The TMC has failed the state, and we will reverse this decline,” he said.

He outlined plans to strengthen the party’s grassroots network, especially in districts where BJP’s organisational reach remains limited. With just ten months to go before the elections, Bhattacharya said, “A baby takes eight to nine months to be born. We have time to deliver. People should not fall for the ‘No Vote to BJP’ campaign — it’s a ploy to help TMC. The real fight is BJP vs TMC. Everything else is noise.”

As the BJP works to regain lost ground after its 2021 setback, Bhattacharya's leadership is expected to play a key role in reshaping the party's narrative and connect with the electorate. He concluded by saying, “This isn’t just about winning an election — it’s about saving Bengal.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh