Union Home Minister Amit Shah has shifted the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bengal campaign into high gear, using a high-level review meeting on Wednesday to send a clear message: the internal "cooling off" periods are over, and it's time for the party to hit the streets. The most significant takeaway from the closed-door session was the visible return of former state president Dilip Ghosh to the inner circle. After months of being sidelined — following a controversial meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that raised eyebrows within his own camp — Ghosh was brought back to the forefront, signaling that the BJP is ready to leverage his aggressive, "firebrand" style for the 2026 Assembly polls.
Shah didn't just meet with the leaders; he issued blunt marching orders to the party’s MPs, MLAs, and local representatives. To even be considered for a ticket in the upcoming elections, leaders have been told they must prove their worth over the next two months. This isn't just about office work— Shah has demanded they spend at least four days a week on the ground, conducting no fewer than five street-corner meetings daily. It’s an exhausting pace, clearly designed to force a massive public outreach campaign and shake off any lingering complacency from the 2024 Lok Sabha results.
The meeting also served as a "bridge-building" exercise between the party's old guard and its newer faces. Shah held separate discussions with Ghosh alongside Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, state president Sukanta Majumdar, and Samik Bhattacharya. By bringing these heavyweights together, the central leadership is trying to project a unified front to a voter base that has often seen the state unit as fractured. Ghosh himself seemed energised by the pivot, telling reporters that his experience and opinions were finally being put to use again, promising an "active" presence in the 2026 fight.
As for the political narrative, Shah has already set the target. He attacked the Trinamool Congress government for allegedly "dangerously altering" Bengal’s demography by allowing infiltration for electoral gains. By making infiltration and corruption the centerpieces of the campaign, the BJP is leaning into its core strengths to challenge the TMC's hold on the state. Before heading back to Delhi, Shah’s itinerary — which included a workers' conference and a visit to the Thantania Kali Temple — underscored the mix of organisational rigor and cultural politics the party hopes will finally deliver them the state.
Also read: Bengal polls will hinge on infiltration: Amit Shah
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