KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Saturday ridiculed Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his claim that the saffron party would come to power in West Bengal after defeating the Trinamool Congress in the 2026 Assembly elections in the state.
In an exclusive interview to The New Indian Express Shah said, “I haven’t visited Bengal recently, but there’s a lot of anti-incumbency against Mamata ji. We are the only party well placed to inherit its benefits. We went up from just three seats to 77. Anyone who understands mathematics can see the trend.”
In response, senior Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Agriculture Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay told The New Indian Express: “For last few days I have been watching Shah’s comments on different TV channels. Before the 2021 Assembly polls, he had claimed that BJP would cross 200 seats. But the party managed to get only 77. This time their seats would be reduced further.”
“He is dreaming in the broad daylight, which is good,” Chattopadhyay ridiculed.
He further claimed that West Bengal under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was progressing very well in every sphere and many state governments emulated various schemes of Banerjee and implemented those in their states.
Supporting what Shah said, the West Bengal State BJP expressed confidence in coming to power in the state dislodging the Trinamool Congress Government after the 2026 Assembly elections.
BJP leader and chief opposition whip at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Sankar Ghosh said, “Coming to power is natural for a political party. After the formation of a political party, it establishes its presence and then comes to power. So, it is natural that BJP will come to power in West Bengal after the Assembly polls due next year.”
In the interview Shah also remarked, “The Left, after ruling for 34 years, has been reduced to zero. The Congress, which governed for 30 years, also has a zero.”
Reacting to this, senior Congress leader and a former MP Pradip Bhattacharya said, “Congress’ vote share has now come down to 5% in West Bengal, but in every village, Congress has presence. It is not possible for the BJP and Shah to abolish Congress completely.”
