In a sharp retort to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) confident projections for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday dismissed the claims as mere "daydreaming." Ghosh was responding to repeated assertions made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the BJP would secure victory in the state.
Voter Deletion Narrative and Flawed Math
Addressing the media in Kolkata, Ghosh targeted what he called the BJP's erroneous political calculations. He accused the BJP of building a false narrative among its cadre, suggesting that the Trinamool Congress's victory margins would be neutralized by the deletion of names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
"BJP's maths is wrong," stated Ghosh emphatically. He argued that the deletions would primarily affect the block of non-voters, given the high turnout percentages in Bengal assemblies. "Every 70%-75% voter turnout means 25%-30% people did not vote. The deletions will fall on that block," he explained, assuring that the TMC would work to ensure no legitimate voter is excluded due to the SIR process.
Countering Allegations on Infiltration and Corruption
Ghosh also tackled Amit Shah's barbs on infiltration and corruption. On the issue of border security, the TMC leader turned the tables, stating that preventing infiltration is the constitutional duty of the Union Home Minister and central agencies, not the state police. "I don't know why they keep scoring same-side goals on this," he remarked.
Responding to corruption allegations against the TMC government, Ghosh launched a fierce counterattack, labeling the BJP as the "biggest washing machine" in Indian politics. "It is now public knowledge that all corrupt turn saints once they are with BJP," he said, citing examples of opposition leaders across states who faced corruption charges until they switched allegiance to the BJP.
Women Safety, Matua Discontent, and Institutional Bias
When questioned about BJP's criticism of Bengal's women safety record, Ghosh pointed to incidents in BJP-ruled states like Unnao and Hathras, and the Bilkis Bano case. "I think BJP should look at the mirror first," he asserted, questioning the silence of Bengal BJP leaders on these matters.
Ghosh supported the decision of several BJP MLAs and an MP from the politically crucial Matua community to skip Amit Shah's recent meeting. He said they had "did the right thing," as they had nothing to offer to a community feeling betrayed. "Lakhs of Matuas are anxious because BJP, which promised to make them citizens, is now pulling at their roots and taking away their voting rights," he alleged, highlighting the issue of citizenship anxieties.
In his concluding remarks, Ghosh accused the BJP of leveraging government institutions, including the Election Commission, for political gains. He vowed that the Trinamool Congress would continue its fight to protect the voting rights of every legitimate citizen in Bengal, setting the stage for a heated political battle in the run-up to 2026.
