The Sangh Parivar is set to organise approximately 2,000 processions across West Bengal on 6 April to mark Ram Navami, as the saffron camp intensifies efforts to bolster Hindutva sentiment in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.
Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the principal opposition in Bengal, Ram Navami celebrations have transformed into a politically charged event in the state.
The BJP has consistently used the religious festival to consolidate Hindu votes, prompting the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to hold similar rallies in recent years.
While neither the BJP nor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) officially organises these processions, key leaders from the saffron camp actively participate in ensuring their success.
“This year, Bengal will witness an unprecedented celebration of Ram Navami, with at least 2,000 rallies planned across the state. In previous years, most processions were concentrated in urban areas, but this time, a significant number will take place in rural regions and block-level areas,” an RSS source stated.
Last year, around 1,000 processions were held, and the number is expected to double this year.
According to the source, at least 100 of the rallies will see over 25,000 participants, with some drawing more than 35,000 attendees.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed that 50 lakh Hindus participated in last year’s celebrations and expects the number to reach one crore this year.
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The strategic planning of these rallies forms part of a broader initiative by the saffron ecosystem to consolidate Hindu voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP has identified key districts where it believes it can strengthen its support base among Hindus compared to the 2021 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
“Hindus in Bengal organise Ram Navami celebrations, not the RSS, but we will support them fully. This year’s celebrations will be significant in terms of the number of rallies and the level of participation,” said Biplab Roy, the state media coordinator for the RSS in southern Bengal.
For the BJP, consolidating Hindu votes has become a strategic imperative in its bid to secure power in 2026. Senior party leaders believe that even a slight shift in Hindu votes from the TMC or the Left to the BJP could help the party cross the majority mark of 148 seats in the Bengal Assembly. In 2021, the TMC secured 47.9 per cent of the vote share, while the BJP garnered 38.14 per cent. In 2024, the TMC’s vote share stood at 45.77 per cent, with the BJP seeing a marginal rise to 38.73 per cent.
“Despite multiple initiatives to attract Hindu voters, many efforts failed due to a lack of coordination between BJP leaders and the 43 frontal organisations of the RSS. However, the situation improved following RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s 10-day visit to Bengal in February.
After his visit, a coordination meeting between BJP and RSS leaders was held in Uluberia, Howrah,” said a BJP leader from the Bengal chapter.
Some BJP leaders believe that incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh could also influence the 2026 election outcome, particularly in districts bordering the neighbouring country. Jishnu Basu, the RSS’s publicity head for the eastern region, recently stated at a press conference that the organisation would extend support to persecuted Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
“During the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) in March, the Sangh resolved to provide all possible support to the oppressed Hindus in Bangladesh,” he said.
However, the ruling TMC has dismissed the BJP’s Hindutva push, stating that it is unlikely to impact the 2026 elections.
“We have no objection to Ram Navami celebrations. In fact, we welcome them. But we strongly oppose BJP leaders like Suvendu Adhikari using the occasion to spread divisive narratives. We urge BJP leaders to focus on securing central funds for Bengal’s development instead of sowing divisions among the people,” said TMC general secretary Tanmoy Ghosh.
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