This year of electoral politics in Bengal has been extremely significant not only for the state but also on the national political stage. This year, so much has happened politically in this state that it seemed Bengal might once again be moving towards change.
This was because when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and paramilitary forces raided the house of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan in the Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas, the subsequent events shook the state’s politics. At that time, Sheikh Shahjahan managed to escape, but 55 days later, he was arrested by the police under pressure from the High Court. After this raid, the women of Sandeshkhali took to the streets with brooms and sticks to protest, sharing stories of atrocities committed by Sheikh Shahjahan with the media.
Sharp Criticism of Judiciary and Administration
The state government did not get a chance to recover from the Sandeshkhali incident because the judiciary began to expose large-scale corruption within the administration. Many TMC ministers and leaders were already in jail, and a prominent MP was expelled on serious misconduct charges. On April 22, the Calcutta High Court canceled the appointments of more than 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff. A month later, the court declared all Other Backward Class (OBC) certificates issued after 2010 as illegal.
BJP’s Electoral Challenges and Performance
With so much happening in the state, the BJP hoped it would benefit in the results of the Lok Sabha elections. It seemed like the people of Bengal wanted to walk the path of change, but the BJP’s hopes and dreams were dashed after the decision on June 4. Preliminary analysis of the election results indicated that the BJP’s performance was disappointing compared to expectations, though not very different from its 2019 performance. The party’s vote share showed a slight increase compared to 2021, but it reflected stability rather than hope and development.
Organizational and Strategic Weaknesses
To improve its performance, the BJP needs to address organizational, policy, communication, and image-related issues. Weaknesses at the booth level, lack of leadership, and lack of coordination among workers weakened the party. Continuous violence and organizational failures before, during, and after the elections damaged the party’s image. The lack of coordination among the top leadership and ignoring old workers were also problems, not only in Bengal but in many other states in India, where the BJP did not prioritize its core voters, costing the party dearly.
TMC’s Effective Strategy and BJP’s Failure
On the other hand, the TMC reversed all negative factors around its government through counterattacks on central investigative agencies and the judiciary, while the BJP failed to take advantage of this highly favorable environment. The TMC effectively used its organizational strength and technology to send personal messages to voters, while the BJP made very little effort to engage directly with voters or understand their concerns.
Cultural and Image Challenges in Bengal
The BJP’s image plays the most crucial role in Bengal. The TMC portrayed the BJP as an outsider party, damaging its image. The excessive dependence of Bengal BJP leaders on Narendra Modi and other leaders also harmed the party’s image. Additionally, the party’s lack of understanding of Bengal’s complex history and culture and its imitative leadership style also affected the party’s image.
Conclusion
The BJP’s performance in 2024 was not as disastrous as it could have been, but the party’s prospects for the 2026 state elections depend on addressing these fundamental challenges and reclaiming lost ground. The party needs to resolve its organizational, policy, communication, and image issues. Furthermore, the party must develop a deep understanding of Bengal’s history, culture, and politics to connect more with the state’s voters and solve their problems. Only then can the BJP make a lasting impact on Bengal’s politics.
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