Shamik Bhattacharya vows BJP won’t let Bengal become ‘West Bangladesh’

Newly appointed West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya accused the Trinamool Congress of allowing "silent demographic invasion" in the state and claimed that the 2026 Assembly elections will be a decisive contest for the identity and existence of Bengali Hindus. He made the statement after taking charge of the state unit, warning that the BJP will not allow West Bengal to turn into "West Bangladesh" or an "Islamic Republic".

Bhattacharya alleged that the ruling party in the state had surrendered before religious fundamentalists for the sake of vote bank politics. He said, "This is not just a political fight but a battle to protect identity, existence, and culture." He further claimed that Bengali Hindus were facing an existential crisis and only the BJP was standing in their support. According to him, demographic changes in the state began in the 1980s and are still ongoing.

He stated that the BJP is not against Muslims but is opposed to religious radicalism and violence. Appealing to Muslims who believe in nationalism and liberal values, he said they should stand with the BJP against religious extremism and appeasement. Bhattacharya said, "About 90 percent of those affected by political violence in recent years are from the Muslim community, and the ruling party has used them only as a vote bank."

Responding to allegations that BJP is alien to Bengal's culture, Bhattacharya said that no party has a monopoly on Bengali culture. He said, "BJP stands with every Bengali who seeks development and dignity. We don’t need lessons on culture or secularism from Trinamool." He also alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has compromised the state’s pluralistic traditions for political gain and accused her of switching religious references while maintaining an appeasement-based policy.

Bhattacharya clarified that there is no division in BJP over ideological lines and that the Bengal and Delhi leaderships are aligned. He referred to Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari as the "natural leader" of the party in the state. He said BJP is committed to inclusive nationalism and is working to revive Bengal’s economy, attract industrial investment, and tackle unemployment. He added that the party will focus on strengthening the organisation in districts where it has not yet established a strong base.