He says that if the BJP wins and runs the state government, they will completely “seal” the eastern borders to prevent illegal crossings; gaps in the fence along the Bangladesh border are a major problem for security, and this is especially important now with the upcoming elections. At rallies in North Bengal, Shah said the current government is delaying the building of the fence because they aren’t giving the Border Security Force the 600 acres of land they need and said work would begin within 45 days of a BJP Chief Minister taking office.
BJP Centers Campaign on Border Security
He also says that while the Election Commission has removed people they believe came illegally from the voter list, the bigger job is to find and deport those who are already in India. West Bengal is a very important border area, and he points to Assam and Tripura, where things are much stricter under BJP governments.
Shah is claiming Mamata Banerjee hasn’t treated North Bengal fairly. He says the state budget gives much more money to Muslims (Rs 5,700 crore) than to North Bengal (Rs 2,200 crore). The Trinamool Congress (TMC) says this is not true, and that money is given based on who needs it, and is for everyone. TMC leaders also accuse the Election Commission of unfairly removing actual voters and say the BJP should try to win by talking about improvements to the state, not by dividing people.
Shah has been using strong language about political violence. He’s told his supporters that a BJP government will stop people from being intimidated, will make sure those responsible are punished, and will protect BJP workers and those who have been forced to do things during the election.
Allegations Against Mamata Banerjee and TMC
The way the Election Commission has revised (and greatly changed) the voter list is now a big point of argument. Officially, around 9.1 million names were removed from the list of 76.6 million voters after being checked. More names were removed in Murshidabad and Malda, which have many Muslim residents. The TMC says this is unfair, while the BJP says it was simply getting rid of people who weren’t allowed to vote anyway. This disagreement is making the political differences even more noticeable as the election gets closer.
West Bengal has 294 seats and the election is happening in two parts, on April 23rd and April 29th. All the seats in North Bengal will vote in the first part of the election. The BJP has gained some support in North Bengal since 2019, and the issue of the border is very often what people there are talking about.
Aside from security, Shah has made specific promises for North Bengal communities. He wants the Rajbanshi language to be officially included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and he wants to create a Narayani battalion (a police unit) within the state reserve police to acknowledge the area’s history and make sure people from the region are represented.
Voter List Revisions and Election Timelines
For the important tea industry, the BJP has said they will give workers ownership papers for their land, which will make them more secure and allow them to get loans. They also said they’ll raise tea worker wages by Rs 500 over two years and give back money that was taken from their retirement funds.
The BJP will build new, modern schools in the tea estates, and make sure a one-time payment of Rs 3,000 for tea workers goes into their accounts. He says these things will completely change the Tea, Timber, and Tourism industries, which have lots of potential but haven’t done very well.
Shah said a BJP government would get back money that was supposedly stolen in scams, and then give it back to the public, with interest. He said Rs 300 crore was lost in the teachers’ hiring case, and Rs 100 crore was misused in flood relief in North Bengal.
Community and Development Promises in North Bengal
He contrasted the BJP with the TMC, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been in power for a long time and hasn’t been accused of corruption – and that’s a good way to run things. A BJP state government would carefully watch how money is spent, speed up welfare programs, and regain people’s confidence in the government.
The BJP also promised to go after those accused of political violence and intimidation. Shah told candidates and party workers that the police would be improved under the BJP, and public safety would be part of a larger plan to have the rule of law.
Now the election in West Bengal is about border security, improving the economy of North Bengal, and whether the claims of corruption are believable. Many voters want to know if stricter border enforcement will be fair, and if the promised improvements will actually happen for ordinary people.
Anti-Corruption Drive and Governance Pitch
Because a lot of people are expected to vote in North Bengal, the BJP hopes their messages about illegal immigration, identity, and employment will get them more support. The TMC, meanwhile, is trying to get their existing supporters to vote by promising to continue welfare programs, social harmony, and saying the voter removals have unfairly prevented people from voting.
Important things to watch for include how quickly the land is obtained for the border fence, the laws used to find and deport people who came to India illegally, and how quickly changes are made to the tea industry. As the first part of the election nears, both parties think security, how the government runs things, and pride in the region will be what decide the outcome.
