Shah Launches Scathing Attack at Massive Rally

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, asserting that West Bengal has suffered from “fear, corruption and misgovernance” over the past 14 years. Addressing a massive public rally in the city, Shah declared that a “patriotic government” would be formed in the state after the 2026 Assembly elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Accusing the ruling TMC of crippling development, Shah alleged that corruption and appeasement politics had paralysed governance in the state.

Corruption, Appeasement and Central Schemes in the Dock

The Home Minister claimed that “toll syndicates” were thriving under the TMC regime and feeding off central government schemes meant for public welfare. According to Shah, corruption at multiple levels had denied ordinary citizens the benefits of development initiatives, while political appeasement had become the cornerstone of the state government’s functioning.

He alleged that the Banerjee government had consistently obstructed development projects for political gain.

Infiltration Raised as Major National Security Concern

Making infiltration a central theme of his address, Shah accused the West Bengal government of deliberately allowing illegal immigration from Bangladesh to continue unchecked. He alleged that border fencing projects were intentionally stalled to alter demographic patterns for electoral advantage.

“Why has infiltration been checked in Tripura, Assam and Gujarat, but allowed to continue here?” Shah asked, promising a strong national grid to prevent illegal entry, detect infiltrators and ensure their expulsion if the BJP comes to power in the state.

Invoking Bengal’s Icons and Cultural Legacy

Seeking to strike an emotional chord, Shah pledged to restore Bengal’s “lost glory, heritage and culture,” invoking the legacy of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The rally coincided with the flag-hoisting anniversary of Netaji on December 30, lending symbolic significance to the event.

Congress Flags Migrant Worker Harassment

In a parallel political narrative, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene against what he described as increasing atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.

Citing more than 1,143 reported cases of harassment over the past 10 months, Chowdhury alleged that migrant workers are frequently branded as Bangladeshi infiltrators solely because of their language, leading to communal tensions and inhuman treatment.

Polarisation Deepens Ahead of 2026 Elections

As West Bengal moves closer to the April 2026 Assembly elections, competing narratives of infiltration, corruption and migrant rights are sharpening political polarisation. While Shah’s campaign focuses on national security and governance failures, opposition voices are highlighting social fault lines and the plight of migrant workers.

With high-voltage rhetoric already dominating the discourse, Bengal appears set for an intensely contested and polarised electoral battle in the months ahead.