By Abhijit Ray, Kolkata
Kolkata: In a historic political upheaval, the Bharatiya Janata Party has stormed to power in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election, ending Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule and marking the first time the BJP will form a government in the state since Independence.
Under the direct leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP secured a decisive mandate as voters across Bengal rejected the Trinamool Congress. The results, declared late Monday night, show the BJP crossing the majority mark comfortably, with saffron sweeping both urban centers and rural strongholds that were once considered TMC bastions.
The campaign, spearheaded by Modi and Shah, centered on the party’s agenda of Hindutva, development, and what it called “restoring Bengal’s cultural identity.” Massive rallies in Kolkata, Siliguri, Durgapur, and the border districts saw top BJP leaders promise to end “appeasement politics” and prioritize infrastructure, jobs, and security.
Addressing party workers at the BJP state headquarters on Muralidhar Sen Lane, a senior state leader said: “The people of Bengal have voted for change. For 15 years, one party and one family controlled the state. Today, Bengal has chosen Narendra Modi’s guarantee and Amit Shah’s strategy over dynastic misrule.”
Mamata Banerjee, who led the TMC since its 2011 victory, conceded defeat late Monday. The TMC’s tally collapsed compared to 2021, with several heavyweight ministers and sitting MLAs losing their seats.
Political analysts called it a generational shift. “This is not just an election win. This is the first time since 1947 that a party with an explicit Hinduism-first agenda will govern West Bengal,” said a Kolkata-based political observer. “The BJP’s focus on Matua, Rajbanshi, tribal, and refugee communities, combined with Modi’s national appeal, rewrote the electoral map.”
Celebrations erupted outside BJP offices across the state as supporters waved flags and chanted slogans. In Delhi, PM Modi posted that “Bengal has blessed the BJP to serve Maa, Mati, Manush with a new vision.”
The Election Commission is expected to issue the formal notification this week, paving the way for the BJP to stake claim and form the next government in West Bengal.
