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Amit Shah to camp in West Bengal for 15 days during Assembly polls; predicts Mamatas defeat in state and Bhabanipur

by Trans World Features | @indiablooms 02 Apr 2026, 06:16 am

Kolkata/IBNS: With political temperatures soaring in poll-bound West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced he will camp in the state for around 15 days during the two-phase Assembly elections, signalling an all-out push by the BJP.

Shah made the announcement while campaigning for BJP candidates, including Suvendu Adhikari, who is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the high-stakes Bhabanipur seat.

“I will be living in West Bengal for 15 days during the elections. The people of the state are ready for change and determined to vote out the Mamata Banerjee government,” Shah said.

In a show of strength, Shah flew to Kolkata to accompany Adhikari during his nomination filing in Bhabanipur, setting the stage for one of the fiercest political battles in the state.

Projecting confidence, Shah said BJP is targeting 170 seats but claimed a victory in Bhabanipur alone could trigger a larger political shift.

“The key to that change lies with the voters of Bhabanipur. While our target is 170 seats, I have a shortcut—victory in Bhabanipur will ensure the change in government,” he said.

Recalling the 2021 Assembly elections, Shah highlighted Adhikari’s win over Banerjee in Nandigram and predicted a repeat.

“Suvendu Adhikari had initially planned to contest only from Nandigram, but I urged him to take on Mamata Banerjee on her home turf. Last time, she lost to him in Nandigram. This time, she will lose both the state and Bhabanipur,” he added.

Adhikari, who launched his campaign in Bhabanipur last month, echoed the confidence.

“I will defeat Mamata Banerjee by at least 25,000 votes… I will defeat her again,” he said.

Bhabanipur has since emerged as a marquee battleground, with both sides turning the contest into a prestige fight. The stakes have further intensified after reports that over 47,000 names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), raising concerns among political observers.

Dismissing the issue, Banerjee exuded confidence in her victory.

“I have unwavering faith in the people. I serve them year-round—this isn’t a one-day battle for me,” she said, adding, “We will win Bhabanipur by a bigger margin. It’s just one of the 294 constituencies for us.”

With heavyweight leaders, sharp rhetoric, and a direct face-off between Banerjee and Adhikari, Bhabanipur is shaping up as the epicentre of West Bengal’s electoral battle.