West Bengal Election 2026 will be a matter of prestige for BJP, what party is doing to win over voters in other states where elections are due in 2026
West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026: Assembly polls are set for Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry in 2026. The BJP has intensified its efforts to establish itself, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Although the party has achieved some success in Kerala, it still has a long way to go to strengthen its position in these states.
Shah himself has taken charge of the campaign in Bengal
The BJP's hopes in West Bengal were not fulfilled in the last election, and this time the state has become a matter of prestige for the party. Home Minister Amit Shah himself has taken charge of the campaign in the state, and it remains to be seen how much the party benefits from the issues of Bangladeshi infiltration and unrest. In Assam, too, the BJP will face the challenge of retaining its government, and the party will have to provide decisive answers on issues of Bangladeshi infiltration and border security.
Smaller parties within the NDA are not happy
Another major challenge for the BJP this time will be keeping its allies united. Several smaller parties within the NDA are expressing dissatisfaction over the issue of Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP will have to face this kind of pressure and ensure that the alliance does not break apart and all parties remain united. This challenge could impact the BJP's politics in the future.
Can party retain support of its senior leaders?
The BJP has indicated that it is moving towards a generational shift in its leadership style. After Nitin Nabin was appointed as the National Working President, steps have been taken to bring forward a new generation of leaders within the party. With this change, a major challenge will be to ensure that the party retains the support of its senior and veteran leaders, while also giving prominent positions to younger members in the new team.
BJP will have to find new issues
The BJP has always posed the question to the opposition, "If not Modi, then who?" Now, the BJP itself has to find the answer to this question. Until 2024, Narendra Modi's face was paramount, but now the party will have to look for a new direction and new faces. Furthermore, the BJP will have to find new issues on which it can unite the public, especially issues that resonate with Gen Z. This will be crucial not only for the party's upcoming electoral strategy but also to ensure that the BJP's popularity remains intact.
Prakash Kumar Pandey