Public Anger Against TMC Intensifies in Bengal

Kolkata: Public resentment against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) appears to be growing in West Bengal, as another party MP has reportedly come under attack just a day after senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee faced hostility from a crowd.

The latest incident involved TMC Member of Parliament Kalyan Banerjee, who was allegedly attacked in the Chanditala area of Hooghly district on Sunday morning while participating in a protest march.

Kalyan Banerjee Faces Protest and Black Flags

According to reports, Kalyan Banerjee was confronted by protesters who waved black flags and raised slogans of “chor, chor” (thief, thief) against him. During the commotion, he was reportedly attacked and sustained injuries to his head.

The protest erupted while Banerjee and his supporters were demonstrating against the recent Sonarpur incident, which has sparked political controversy in the state.

Attack Occurs During Demonstration

Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated as protesters gathered along the route of the demonstration in Chanditala. The situation quickly turned chaotic, leading to a confrontation between the crowd and TMC supporters.

The incident comes at a time when political tensions in West Bengal remain high, with opposition groups and sections of the public increasingly targeting TMC leaders over various issues.

Police Intervene, MP Rescued

Police personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information about the disturbance. Security forces managed to bring the situation under control and safely escorted Kalyan Banerjee away from the area.

Authorities also dispersed the crowd and restored order. No official statement regarding arrests or further action had been issued immediately after the incident.

Political Heat Rises Ahead of Key Electoral Battles

The attack on Kalyan Banerjee, coming just a day after Abhishek Banerjee faced public hostility, has intensified the political debate in West Bengal. The incidents have raised concerns over the deteriorating political atmosphere in the state and the growing public anger directed at leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Political observers believe the back-to-back incidents could become a major talking point in Bengal politics in the coming days.

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BJP Begins a New Political Era in West Bengal

West Bengal has entered a new political phase with the beginning of the Suvendu Adhikari government. For the first time in the state’s history, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come to power in Bengal.

In a grand ceremony held at Kolkata’s historic Brigade Parade Ground, Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal. Along with him, five newly elected MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the new cabinet.

The composition of the cabinet has drawn significant attention as it includes leaders representing OBC, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and regional communities, reflecting BJP’s broader social outreach strategy in Bengal.

Here is a closer look at the five ministers who joined Suvendu Adhikari’s cabinet.

Dilip Ghosh: RSS Pracharak Turned Bengal BJP Strongman

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, 61, took oath as a minister in the new Bengal government. Born on August 1, 1964, Ghosh holds an ITI diploma and is considered one of the key architects of BJP’s rise in West Bengal.

Before entering active politics, he was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and worked in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the organisation between 1999 and 2007.

Ghosh served as the Member of Parliament from Medinipur Lok Sabha constituency from 2019 to June 2024. During his parliamentary tenure, he was part of several important committees, including the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, the Committee of Privileges and the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

He also served as BJP’s West Bengal state president from 2020 to 2023 and earlier worked as the party’s state general secretary.

Agnimitra Paul: Fashion Designer to Cabinet Minister

Agnimitra Paul, one of BJP’s prominent women leaders in Bengal, also joined the cabinet. Born on November 25, 1974, she was a well-known fashion designer in Kolkata before entering politics.

Paul holds an MBA degree along with a diploma in fashion technology. She joined the BJP on March 23, 2019, and quickly emerged as a strong political face of the party.

She represents the Asansol South Assembly constituency and first came into prominence after defeating TMC candidate Sayoni Ghosh in the 2021 Assembly elections. She retained her seat again in the 2026 elections.

Apart from electoral politics, she also served as the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha in West Bengal and later became the party’s state general secretary and vice-president.

Paul had also contested the 2022 Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll against actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha and later fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Medinipur.

Ashok Kirtania: BJP’s SC Face from Bangaon North

Ashok Kirtania, MLA from the SC-reserved Bangaon North constituency, has also been inducted into the cabinet.

He was first elected to the West Bengal Assembly in 2021 after defeating TMC candidate Shyamal Roy. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he retained the seat with a strong mandate, securing over 1.19 lakh votes.

The 52-year-old leader is a graduate and works as a businessman besides being active in politics. BJP leaders see him as an important Scheduled Caste representative in the party’s Bengal expansion strategy.

Khudiram Tudu: Tribal Leader from Junglemahal Region

Khudiram Tudu, MLA from the Ranibandh ST constituency, has emerged as one of the prominent tribal faces in the new BJP government.

A senior BJP leader from the Santhal tribal community, Tudu defeated TMC candidate Tanushree Hansda by more than 52,000 votes in the Assembly elections.

Political observers believe his inclusion in the cabinet reflects BJP’s focus on strengthening its tribal support base in the Junglemahal region and western Bengal.

Tudu is considered a grassroots leader with a clean image and has no criminal cases against him.

Nisith Pramanik: Young BJP Leader from North Bengal

Thirty-five-year-old Nisith Pramanik is regarded as one of BJP’s strongest leaders in North Bengal. Belonging to the Rajbanshi community, he has played a major role in strengthening the party in the northern districts.

Pramanik earlier served as Minister of State in the Union government between 2021 and 2024. He handled responsibilities in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, making him one of the youngest ministers in the Modi government.

He had also served as MP from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency and was elected as MLA from Dinhata in the 2021 Assembly elections.

Originally associated with the Trinamool Congress, Pramanik joined the BJP in 2019. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he registered a massive victory from the Mathabhanga constituency, defeating the TMC candidate by over 57,000 votes.

Cabinet Reflects BJP’s Social and Regional Balancing

The first cabinet of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reflects BJP’s attempt to balance caste, tribal, regional and organisational representation in West Bengal.

With experienced leaders like Dilip Ghosh, emerging faces like Agnimitra Paul, tribal representation through Khudiram Tudu, SC leadership through Ashok Kirtania and North Bengal influence through Nisith Pramanik, the BJP appears focused on building a broad political coalition in the state as it begins its first term in power in Bengal.

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A New Political Chapter Begins in Bengal

A new chapter has been written in the political history of West Bengal. From the waves of Hooghly to the hills of Darjeeling, chants of “Jai Shri Ram” echoed across the state, signaling a dramatic shift in Bengal’s political landscape.

For the first time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed a government in West Bengal, fulfilling what party supporters describe as the long-cherished dream of BJP ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal during a grand oath-taking ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several top party leaders.

The Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected Chief Minister.

Senior BJP Leaders Take Oath as Ministers

Following Suvendu Adhikari’s swearing-in, senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also took oath as a minister in the new cabinet. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, a well-known political face in Bengal and former fashion designer turned politician, was also sworn in as minister. She recently won the Asansol South Assembly constituency.

Khudiram Tudu, Nisith Pramanik, and Ashok Kirtania were among the other BJP leaders who took oath as ministers in the newly formed government.

The ceremony witnessed the presence of several senior BJP leaders and supporters celebrating the party’s historic rise to power in the state.

BJP Forms Government in Bengal for the First Time

The BJP secured a historic mandate in the West Bengal Assembly elections, paving the way for the party’s first-ever government in the state. After the landslide victory, Suvendu Adhikari emerged as the central face of the BJP in Bengal politics.

Adhikari had earlier become one of the BJP’s strongest leaders in the state after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram Assembly contest during the 2021 elections. Since then, he had served as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.

As opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari aggressively targeted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over several controversial issues, including the Sandeshkhali controversy, incidents of violence during Durga Puja in the Howrah-Uluberia region, and the RG Kar Hospital incident.

His political rise and continued attacks on the ruling TMC helped consolidate the BJP’s position across Bengal.

Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s Dream Realised

The BJP traces its ideological roots to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who is often regarded as one of the ideological architects of the party. Born in Kolkata in 1901 into a Bengali Brahmin family, Mookerjee was a prominent nationalist leader and educationist.

He served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet after Independence. However, he later resigned and founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 — the political organisation that eventually evolved into the BJP.

Political observers often point out the irony that although the ideological foundations of the BJP emerged from Bengal through Jana Sangh, the party had never managed to capture power in the state for decades.

With this electoral victory, the BJP has now formed its first government in West Bengal, marking a major turning point in the state’s political history.

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Major Announcements for Women and Welfare

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday unveiled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections during his visit to the state. The manifesto outlines a series of welfare measures aimed at empowering women, farmers, and youth.

One of the key promises includes direct financial assistance of ₹3,000 per month to beneficiaries under the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme, which will be credited directly to women’s bank accounts between the 1st and 5th of every month. Additionally, pregnant women will receive ₹21,000 in financial aid along with six nutrition kits.

Support for Farmers and Government Employees

The BJP has also pledged to enhance financial support for farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme by providing an additional ₹3,000 annually. This would increase the total annual assistance to ₹9,000.

For government employees and salaried individuals, the party has promised to ensure Dearness Allowance (DA) benefits. The manifesto also commits to implementing all major central government schemes, including the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations and Ayushman Bharat, within 45 days of coming to power.

Focus on Women’s Empowerment and Safety

The manifesto places strong emphasis on women’s empowerment. It promises 33 percent reservation for women in all government jobs, including the police force. The party has also set a target to create 7.5 million “Lakhpati Didis,” referring to women earning over ₹1 lakh annually.

To enhance safety, the BJP plans to establish women’s police stations and dedicated help desks in every administrative block, ensuring quick and effective assistance. The goal is to create an environment where women feel safe at all times.

Infrastructure and Development Plans

The manifesto also outlines a comprehensive development blueprint for the state. Plans include full electrification of the Kolkata Metro to modernize urban transport.

Additionally, the government aims to facilitate land availability for 61 railway projects within one year to accelerate infrastructure growth. A target has also been set to remove all illegal encroachments from government land within 200 days.

Youth-Focused Initiatives and Employment Support

To support young graduates, the manifesto promises a monthly stipend of ₹3,000 to help them start their careers. Candidates preparing for competitive exams will receive a one-time financial aid of ₹15,000.

In a move to address concerns over recruitment irregularities, the BJP has proposed a five-year age relaxation for candidates affected by delays due to exam paper leaks and corruption. The party also assured adequate job opportunities for youth who have been unable to secure employment since 2015.

Public Outreach and Political Campaign

During his visit, Amit Shah is also scheduled to hold a roadshow in Kharagpur to connect with the public. Expressing his enthusiasm, he stated that he is eager to interact with the people of the state and seek their support ahead of the elections.

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