Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that “not a single intruder” would be allowed to enter West Bengal if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state. He also declared that illegal immigrants already residing in the state would be “selectively rooted out,” framing the issue as central to both governance and national security.
Addressing a public rally in Balagarh in Hooghly district, Shah said that the upcoming election results would mark a turning point. “After poll results come out, no one will be able to infiltrate Bengal; illegal immigrants already here will be pushed out by BJP,” he said. He urged voters to view their participation as more than just electing representatives, emphasizing that it was also about “freeing Bengal from infiltrators.”
Confident about the party’s electoral prospects, Shah stated that the BJP was poised to form a government with a full majority. “Today, the voting for the first phase is almost over, and this is my 30th programme across Bengal. On May 5, Didi’s game will be up. A BJP government will be formed in Bengal with a full majority,” he said, in a direct political challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The Union minister also linked the issue of infiltration to economic and security concerns, alleging that it adversely impacts local livelihoods and national interests. “Intruders are eating away the jobs of Bengal’s youth, the rations of the poor, and working to undermine the country’s security,” he claimed, reinforcing a key theme in the BJP’s campaign narrative.
As polling for the first phase concluded, Shah intensified outreach efforts ahead of the next round. Calling on voters to support the BJP in the upcoming phase, he said, “On April 29, you have to press the button against the lotus symbol. It is not just to make someone an MLA or to form a BJP government. It is to free the land of Bengal from infiltrators.”
Earlier in the day, Shah visited the BJP’s centralised ‘war room’ in Salt Lake, where he held a closed-door meeting with senior party leaders. The visit, not part of his official itinerary, came within hours of voting commencing across several constituencies in north and south Bengal, underscoring the party’s focus on closely monitoring the electoral process.
According to party sources, Shah reviewed the polling situation, particularly in north Bengal districts where the BJP has traditionally performed strongly. He also assessed feedback from party workers regarding voter turnout and any reports of disruptions. Several senior leaders stationed in the state for election management were present at the meeting.
The BJP’s war room has been set up to track polling developments in real time, coordinate responses, and ensure seamless communication between ground-level workers and the party’s central leadership. As the high-stakes electoral battle unfolds, the party appears to be banking on strong messaging around security, governance, and political change to consolidate voter support in West Bengal.
Leave Your Comment