By Admin 
BJP’s enthusiasm is high after the recent victory in Bihar. After the victory in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly said that now ‘Jungle Raj’ has to be ended in Bengal. Consecutive victories in Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi have given new impetus to the party. Now everyone’s eyes are on the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Bengal has become not just a state for the BJP, but the biggest test of prestige and expansion – just like Bihar was. How has been the performance of BJP in Bengal so far? Why is Bengal’s victory important for BJP? Why is winning Bengal not as easy as Bihar? Let us know in the explainer…
Question 1: How has been BJP’s journey in Bengal so far?
answer: After independence, assembly elections were held for the first time in West Bengal in 1952. BJP was formed in 1980, but BJP could not form government even once in 46 years. However, after the Modi wave in 2014, the condition of the party definitely changed:
- In 2015, BJP had only 2 MPs in West Bengal and not even one MLA.
- In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party won 18 out of 42 seats.
- In the 2021 assembly elections, BJP won a record 77 seats with 38% vote share. Trinamool Congress (TMC) got 48% votes and 215 seats. BJP sat in opposition.
- After that, due to the defection of some MLAs, the strength of BJP decreased a bit, but the party did not accept defeat. Today the contest in Bengal is clearly between the two main parties – BJP and TMC.
- Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of Bengal in 2011. Since then, it has defeated BJP in 6 assembly and Lok Sabha elections i.e. 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024.
Question 2: How close is BJP to forming government in 2026?
answer: In the 2021 elections, BJP lost 38 seats by a margin of just 5% and 75 seats by a margin of 10%. Meaning, even a small vote swing can bring a large number of seats. Election experts say that if BJP gets only 5% of TMC’s votes, its total seats will be 75+77 i.e. around 152. 148 seats are required for majority in West Bengal, which means BJP can form the government by becoming the largest party.
On the other hand, anti-incumbency, unemployment, local discontent and allegations of corruption among TMC leaders have made the path more difficult for Mamata Banerjee’s party.
Question 3: Why is it so important for BJP to win Bengal?
answer: Political expert Rashid Kidwai says that winning Bengal has become a do or die situation for BJP, there are 5 big reasons for this…
1. Brand Modi now stronger: After Bihar victory, Modi’s stature has increased further. Coordination within the party and with RSS has also improved. The promise of ending ‘Jungle Raj’ in Bengal is no longer just an election slogan but a question of the credibility of Brand Modi.
2. BJP’s expansion in Eastern India: By winning Bengal, BJP will strengthen its hold in the East. As of now, BJP, which is strong in the North and West, is battling a strong regional party like TMC in the East. Capture of Bengal will give a new dimension to the image of BJP in the entire country.
3. Direct chance of power in 2026: In the 294-seat assembly, 152 seats are more than the majority. Government can be formed only with 5% vote swing. Losing after coming so close would be a big blow for BJP, while victory would be historic.
4. Direct contest against TMC: There is no alliance in Bengal. BJP is fighting TMC alone. Victory here does not just mean seats, but also the end of Mamata Banerjee’s 14-year-old rule. This will prove the power of BJP to ‘win alone’.
5. Moral and organizational strength of cadre: Bihar victory has boosted the enthusiasm of the workers. The appointment of a new state president like Sameek Bhattacharya in Bengal is also a step in this direction. The victory of 2026 will give new energy to the entire organization and will completely forget the setback of 2024 Lok Sabha.
Question 4: But will winning Bengal be as easy as Bihar?
answer: No. CSDS professor and election analyst Hilal Ahmed says that Bengal is not as easy as Bihar. Due to the nuances of Bengali identity, culture, history and politics, BJP will have to be careful on the ‘infiltrator’ issue here as this issue is affecting both the Hindu vote banks. TMC capitalizes on cultural sentiments well. Nevertheless, given the strength of anti-incumbency and Modi brand, BJP is in a position to pose the strongest challenge in Bengal today.
Hilal Ahmed says, ‘It was easy for BJP to win Bihar because there was an alliance with JDU and the powerful image of Nitish Kumar was with BJP. The situation is different in Bengal. Here the ruling party has been taking on BJP at every step.
At the same time, political expert Rashid Kidwai says, ‘BJP had won 77 seats in the 2021 elections. In just 10 years, BJP came from 0 to 77 seats. If BJP cuts just a few vote percentages from TMC, then the path to forming the government will be easier. However, this is politics, it cannot be said with certainty on which side the camel will sit.
Bengal is now not just an election for BJP, but a big test. The journey that started in 2015 became stronger in 2019-2021. There is a chance of forming a government in 2026 with 5% vote swing. Bihar’s victory has shown the way. If BJP capitalizes on anti-incumbency with cultural sensitivity, 2026 Bengal could become its biggest victory. This is not just a story of seats, but of making a permanent place for BJP in Eastern India.