Bengal victory a boost to national security narrative, says BJP at Mumbai celebrations

BJP supporters apply ‘gulal’ amid celebrations during vote tabulation of the West Bengal Assembly election results in Kolkata, on Monday. Pic/PTI

The BJP on Monday said its victory in West Bengal would be a "decisive blow" to illegal cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh, framing the result as a national security milestone rather than a routine electoral gain. Speaking at a party celebration in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the mandate would help tighten border control and curb the movement of undocumented migrants into other states, including Maharashtra.

‘Not just a state win'

Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde echoed the view, saying the outcome goes beyond adding another state to the party's tally.
>> The win is being positioned as a response to illegal infiltration from Bangladesh
>> BJP leaders said porous borders in West Bengal have long enabled movement into other parts of India
>> The party claimed a stronger government in the state would "put a full stop" to such activity
"For years, Bangladeshis have been entering through Bengal's porous borders and quietly spreading to Maharashtra and other parts of India. Now, a strong government will protect India's borders and prioritise citizens' safety," Fadnavis said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File pic/PTI

Leadership and strategy

The chief minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for projecting a development-focused vision that resonated with voters. He also praised Home Minister Amit Shah for his electoral strategy, calling it a key factor in the victory.

Fadnavis targets past regimes

Fadnavis also criticised previous governments in West Bengal, pointing to what he described as a prolonged period of decline.
>> Around 30 years of Congress rule
>> 36 years under the Left parties
>> Nearly 15 years under Mamata Banerjee

"Once known as India's commercial hub, West Bengal has seen a sharp decline. Today, it attracts less than half a per cent of the country's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Many industries have shut down or moved out, and there are concerns over law and order affecting business confidence," he said.

Numbers game

>> BJP currently has 16 chief ministers across India
>> A government in West Bengal would take the number to 17
>> The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tally would rise to 22 chief ministers
>> Party leaders said the expansion moves the BJP closer to its long-term goal of "Sath Pratishat BJP" (100 per cent BJP)

Voices and choices

Dr Anannya Mukherji, MD, who practises medicine in Mumbai
‘The BJP win has not been completely unexpected. When I talked to people earlier in Bengal, I met two kinds of people. There were those who were completely against [Narendra] Modi, who thought, let us vote TMC, it is not perfect, but Modi is worse. Then there was a change in mindset, and people tired of the corruption. If I wanted to build a home, for instance, one could not step outside and buy the material from a store, but only from some ‘approved' persons of the government cadre, if one could call it that. People also saw no development compared with the development of other states. The youngsters had to move out for jobs because of the economy. Today, I see youngsters invested in the political scene, with large numbers of them coming out to vote. These are some of the factors that turned the tide in BJP's favour'.

Shantanu Bhattacharya, Mumbai-based consultant at a multi-national company
‘Talking about the margin of the BJP win, offhand, I can say that even without the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the BJP may have had the edge, but the margin would have been smaller. Having said that, I must emphasise that the SIR is not the only reason for this massive win. I have relatives in Kolkata who have been lifelong Congressis, if I can use that term, and even they voted BJP this time. They were absolutely fed up with the TMC workers' arrogance and the rampant extortion. Even when one is in power, as the TMC was for so many years, you can feel the ground shifting, so to speak, and that makes ruling parties even more authoritarian. This was exactly what was witnessed with the TMC. Almost 70 per cent of urban cities in West Bengal have voted for BJP. North Bengal was always BJP, but we saw a massive shift in the South also this time, with the cities voting for BJP'

Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Renowned playback singer
‘The BJP win is a pleasant surprise. People understood the difference between Bengali and Bangladeshi. There have been 70 years of non-development, barring one phase when the anti-industrial mindset was shunned, and Tata was invited to Bengal, but then again, he was told tata! West Bengal is very rich and resourceful. The Bengali bhadralok were, by and large, content with their situation. Today, we see that changing. There has been an awakening and a realisation. We will now hopefully see Bengal move ahead in terms of development and the economy. The kamal has bloomed; it has conquered and now is ready to spread its fragrance in West Bengal'

With inputs from Hemal Ashar