Kolkata, April 24: Political activity in West Bengal has intensified following a record voter turnout in the first phase of elections. The main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has ramped up its campaign efforts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a roadshow in North 24 Parganas on Friday, asserting that the BJP is poised for a significant victory in the state.
During the roadshow, Shah noted a substantial shift in the political climate in West Bengal from 2021 to 2026. He claimed that public discontent against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has escalated compared to previous years. This wave of dissent, he stated, has nearly doubled, providing the BJP with a strong foundation to form the government in the state.
Shah also made bold claims regarding the Bhawanipur assembly seat, expressing confidence that the party would secure not only this seat but also achieve a sweeping majority across the state. The Bhawanipur constituency is expected to witness a fierce contest between Chief Minister Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.
Responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s accusations of polarization politics against Banerjee, Shah remarked that Gandhi has come to this realization quite late. Recently, Gandhi stated that if Banerjee had maintained a clean government and avoided divisive politics, it would have been challenging for the BJP to gain a foothold in Bengal.
Additionally, Shah briefly addressed the issue of seven MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party joining the BJP. He mentioned that he had not yet seen the complete press conference regarding this matter but noted that those MPs cited several reasons for their departure from the party.
In the first phase of voting on Thursday, West Bengal recorded an unprecedented turnout of over 90 percent across 152 seats. This historic voter turnout is viewed by the BJP as a sign of change in the state. Voting for the second phase will take place on April 29 for 142 seats, with results expected on May 4.
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S.C.H./A.B.M.
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