What Amit Shah Told Bengal BJP Leaders — And the Return of a Key Leader
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a crucial closed-door meeting with top West Bengal BJP leaders in Kolkata as part of the party’s early preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections. The meeting, held on the third day of his state visit, focused on strategy, unity within the party, and sharpening the campaign narrative.
Senior leaders including state BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, former state presidents Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar, and several central BJP leaders were present. The discussions marked a significant moment in the party’s attempt to streamline leadership and energise its cadre ahead of the polls.
Shah’s Message: Unity Above All
According to party sources, Amit Shah made it clear that internal differences must be set aside if the BJP is to challenge the Trinamool Congress in 2026. He urged leaders to work as a single team and focus entirely on winning the Assembly election.
The meeting was seen as an effort to bridge the gap between old and new leadership groups within the state unit and ensure coordinated campaigning across regions.
Dilip Ghosh Signals Political Comeback
A key highlight of the meeting was the visible return of former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who had remained largely inactive in recent months. After the meeting, Ghosh told the media that he had been asked to share his experience and would play an active role in the upcoming elections.
His re-emergence is being viewed as significant, given his strong grassroots connect and past success in expanding the BJP’s footprint in Bengal. Under his leadership, the BJP rose from just three Assembly seats in 2016 to 77 seats in 2021, and won 18 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.
Focus on Ground-Level Mobilisation
Amit Shah laid down a detailed roadmap for party workers and elected representatives. He instructed BJP MLAs, MPs and former candidates to:
- Spend at least four days a week in the field
- Hold five to six public or corner meetings daily
- Engage in door-to-door outreach
- Listen to grievances of voters and booth workers
Shah also indicated that ticket aspirants would be judged based on their performance and visibility over the next two months.
Emphasis on Infiltration and Corruption
The BJP’s campaign narrative for 2026 has been clearly outlined. According to sources, Shah asked leaders to focus on two core issues:
- Alleged infiltration of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh
- Corruption under the Trinamool Congress government
The party plans to argue that demographic changes caused by infiltration pose a threat to Bengal’s security and social balance, and that the TMC has failed to address the issue.
Special Focus on Matua Community
With the Election Commission carrying out a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Shah instructed leaders to intensify outreach among the Matua community, especially in border areas. BJP workers have been asked to assist voters whose names may have been removed from draft rolls.
The Matua community is considered politically crucial, and the party is keen to consolidate its support base ahead of the polls.
Kolkata Target Set
Later in the day, Shah met booth-level workers in Kolkata and set an ambitious target of winning 20 out of the city’s 28 Assembly seats. He stressed that BJP workers must convince voters that even urban areas are affected by infiltration and governance failures.
Conclusion
Amit Shah’s visit has effectively kickstarted BJP’s 2026 election campaign in West Bengal. With a renewed emphasis on unity, aggressive grassroots mobilisation, and a sharp narrative centred on infiltration and governance, the party appears to be gearing up for a high-stakes political battle against the Trinamool Congress.
