Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a powerful and directive address to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders in Kolkata on Wednesday, setting ambitious targets for the party in West Bengal and rallying the cadre for a decisive electoral victory.
'Dil Pe Likho': A Rallying Cry for Bengal
Speaking at the Science City auditorium before departing the city, Shah issued a clarion call to the state unit. He urged his colleagues to internalize the goal of forming the next government in the state. "Dil pe likh lo, is baar hamari sarkar" (Etch it in your hearts, this time our government), he declared, making the party's intent unequivocally clear. This emotional appeal was set against the backdrop of what he described as the heart-wrenching killing of BJP workers in the state.
Specific Seat Demands and Electoral Analysis
The Home Minister laid down a specific and challenging target for the crucial Kolkata region. He demanded that the party win 22 out of the 28 assembly seats in and around Kolkata. This demand comes after a mixed electoral performance in the area. While the BJP failed to secure a single seat in Kolkata, Jadavpur, and Dumdum during the 2021 assembly polls, it managed to gain leads in segments like Jorasanko and Shyampukur during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Shah's address also saw a moment of on-stage correction. While mentioning Bhowanipore—the constituency from which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee won a 2021 bypoll—Shah initially stated the BJP had secured a lead in three wards. A party karyakarta, Navin Mishra, stood up to correct him, after which Shah acknowledged the error and revised the figure to five wards in Bhowanipore, crediting "sheer hard work."
Addressing Infiltration and Organizational Challenges
Reiterating concerns he flagged a day earlier, Shah again raised the issue of infiltration and "changing demography" around Kolkata. Quoting the minister, a party leader present said Shah warned, "Kolkata is not safe any more. Infiltration is going to increase very soon and we will be in deep trouble then."
Shah also directly addressed perceptions of the BJP's organizational weaknesses in certain parts of the state. He instructed leaders to ignore narratives about a weak organization, asserting that the party's organizational strength has significantly improved since 2021. Adopting a defiant tone, he was quoted as saying, "Jisko jo sochna hai soch le, charcha chalne dijiye" (Let people think whatever they want to. Let the discussions continue).
Furthermore, Shah identified a key area for expansion, pointing to around 140 seats in the areas surrounding Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, and Howrah where the party's presence is still not significant. He directed the state unit to penetrate this zone aggressively in the upcoming electoral battle.
The Union Minister's visit was packed with strategy, including consecutive meetings with Bengal BJP seniors prior to the public address. Emphasizing singular focus, BJP leader Shishir Bajoria summarized Shah's directive: "He asked us to focus only on the election till the counting of votes is over." With this high-octane rally, Amit Shah has clearly set the stage for the BJP's intensified campaign to capture power in West Bengal.
