Kolkata

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday hailed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sweeping victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, describing the result as a major political and ideological milestone for the party.

Addressing a gathering in Kolkata, Shah said the mandate reflected public confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s model of governance. He reiterated the party’s commitment to building “Sonar Bangla” and said the victory carried significance beyond electoral politics.

Drawing a broader ideological narrative, Shah remarked that after a century-long political journey, BJP-led governments now stretch “from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar.”

He also praised senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for his electoral performance, noting that Adhikari had previously defeated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram and had now emerged victorious against her in Bhabanipur as well.

Highlighting the BJP’s rise in West Bengal, Shah said the party’s growth from three seats to 77 and now 207 seats marked an unprecedented political expansion. He further claimed that in several districts, the All India Trinamool Congress had failed to secure representation.

Referring to Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Shah said it was significant that the BJP was now forming a government in the state associated with the Jana Sangh founder.

Criticising the political climate under previous governments in Bengal, Shah alleged that an atmosphere of fear and suppression of free expression had persisted from the Left Front era into the Trinamool Congress administration. Despite incidents of violence, he said, voters had strongly backed the BJP and Prime Minister Modi.

He also linked the electoral outcome to issues of national security, stating that the BJP had promised to identify infiltrators and remove them from West Bengal and the rest of the country.

Shah urged BJP workers to fulfil public expectations and work toward the vision of “Sonar Bangla.”

Targeting the Indian National Congress and leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah criticised repeated allegations regarding electronic voting machines, voter lists, and the Election Commission following electoral defeats. He argued that Congress had struggled electorally in multiple states for decades and dismissed claims of electoral malpractice.

During the meeting, Shah formally announced Suvendu Adhikari as the BJP legislative party leader in West Bengal. Adhikari is scheduled to take oath as Chief Minister on Saturday, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

Adhikari contested from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur and defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.

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In the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP secured 207 seats, while the Trinamool Congress won 80 seats after ruling the state for 15 years.