Kunal Ghosh taunts Amit Shah, says 'stay in Bengal after results are out'

Senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Thursday announced that he would stay in West Bengal for 15 days during the election period, signalling an intensified campaign push by the party ahead of the Assembly polls. Addressing supporters, Shah said the extended stay would allow him to engage more closely with voters and leaders, adding that his visit was also aimed at supporting key candidates, including Suvendu Adhikari.

The statement triggered a sharp political response from the ruling Trinamool Congress, with state general secretary Kunal Ghosh questioning the BJP leadership’s commitment to the state. Reacting to Shah’s announcement, Ghosh said the BJP leaders are free to stay as long as they want during elections, but challenged them to remain in Bengal even for a day after the results are declared, framing it as a test of political confidence.

The exchange reflects an ongoing political narrative in the state, where the Trinamool Congress has repeatedly accused BJP leaders of “frequent visit” politics during elections. Senior leaders including Narendra Modi and Shah have made multiple campaign visits, which the ruling party claims highlights organisational weaknesses within the BJP’s state unit.

With internal dissent surfacing within the BJP over candidate selection and recent electoral setbacks, the upcoming Assembly elections are being seen as a crucial test for the party in Bengal. Political observers suggest that the intensified presence of central leadership underscores the high stakes involved, as both parties sharpen their campaigns in what is shaping up to be a closely contested battle.