In a land dominated by the Communists for decades, it was Mamata Banerjee who emerged as a beacon of hope for the people of West Bengal. Now, it is the BJP that seeks to establish itself in a state where it hardly had a presence earlier.
Admittedly, the BJP has significantly strengthened its position in Bengal to the point where it has eclipsed the Communists and emerged as the main opposition and alternative to the TMC. Yet, it still seems to lack that “final thrust” needed to propel it to an absolute electoral victory.
The X-factor separating the two parties is the organizational strength of the TMC, something the BJP struggles to match. Nationally, the BJP’s success has been driven by its strong grassroots network.
But in Bengal, it is the TMC that dominates this space - thanks largely to Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata’s nephew and the de facto ruler of the state. Abhishek has even boasted that his party will win every booth he campaigns in.
But why is the BJP struggling in a state where the RSS has long enjoyed a formidable presence? In truth, the BJP’s rise in Bengal owes much to the RSS. Yet in recent times, enthusiasm within the RSS to actively work for the BJP appears to have waned.
When Mohan Bhagwat visited Bengal recently, he chose to meet only RSS functionaries. Still, after the last Lok Sabha elections, there are signs of a renewed rapprochement between the BJP and RSS.
A unique compromise seems to have been worked out in Bengal: both organizations will operate independently, but with the common goal of bringing the BJP to power.
The RSS will focus on door-to-door campaigns and shakhas, while the BJP will rely on a more aggressive social media strategy, supplemented by local advertisements and podcasts. At the same time, the BJP leadership has stepped up its engagement with district-level leaders.
With the Bengal elections still 8–12 months away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited the state thrice in the past two months.
Twelve months may seem like a short time in politics, but the key question remains: will it be enough for the BJP to finally exorcise the “booths of Bengal”?>
