States » EastPosted at: Oct 12 2026 6:45PM


BJP's Rejinagar win shows minorities want development, not identity politics: WB party chief Samik

Kolkata, Oct 12 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya on Monday claimed the party's victory in minority-dominated Rejinagar assembly constituency marked a significant shift in the state's political discourse, with minority voters increasingly seeking development, employment and social equality rather than identity-based politics, and said the BJP would work towards changing governments at both the Centre and in West Bengal within the next two years.
Addressing a BJP victory rally in Kolkata organised to celebrate the party's victories in the Murshidabad's Rejinagar and East Midnapore's Nandigram Assembly bypolls, Bhattacharya said the results had demonstrated that the BJP's appeal was extending beyond its traditional support base.
“The people belonging to minority communities in West Bengal want development. They want education and employment. They want to participate in a fair and equitable society. They want government jobs,” he said.
The BJP's victory in Rejinagar, a constituency with a substantial Muslim population, was particularly significant for the party, while its Nandigram victory was secured by a margin of more than one lakh votes.
Bhattacharya also launched a sharp personal attack on former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee without naming her, saying the BJP was “missing” the state's “self-proclaimed Royal Bengal Tiger”.
“We all are missing West Bengal's self-proclaimed Royal Bengal Tiger. She used to call herself a Royal Bengal Tiger but look what it has come to — she is now siding with cockroaches to remain relevant in politics,” Bhattacharya said.
He said the bypoll results had shown that people were rejecting divisive politics and claimed that the BJP's fight was not against any community, individual or group.
“We had told the people that our fight was not against any community. Our fight was not against any particular individual or any small group. This victory is a victory for the people,” he said.
Bhattacharya said the BJP wanted political differences to be expressed through democratic protests rather than violence.
“Protest, take to the streets, criticise the government. If there are shortcomings in the government's work, raise them. But do not take politics into the realm of violence,” he said.
He said the political vocabulary of West Bengal would change following the BJP's electoral successes and asserted that the party would work towards bringing about a change of government at both the Centre and in the state within the next two years.
“Within the next two years, we will work towards coordinating the change of governments at the Centre and in the state,” he said.
The BJP state president also criticised the Opposition at the national level, saying it had become largely irrelevant and was resorting to publicity stunts to remain politically visible.
“The Opposition in the country is barely relevant and is taking part in cheap PR stunts simply to remain relevant,” he said.
Bhattacharya also attacked the Opposition over what he described as its silence on attacks against Hindus and the burning of Durga Puja pandals in Bangladesh.
“Today, in Bangladesh, 11 Puja pandals have been completely burnt down. Where are those progressive poets, intellectuals, artists and film directors who used to speak of ‘my Bengal, your Bengal’? Why are they not protesting? Come forward and protest. Take to the streets,” he said.
He alleged that houses had been demolished, people attacked and Hindu temples vandalised in Bangladesh, and said people in West Bengal should not remain indifferent to such developments.
“They are our relatives, our brothers,” he said.
Turning to the BJP's governance agenda in West Bengal, Bhattacharya claimed the party had created an “extortion-free society” in the state and said investors who had earlier moved capital elsewhere were now returning.
“Those who had earlier shown interest in investing in our state, but were moving their capital to other states, are now investing in West Bengal. People are coming to West Bengal from all around,” he said.
He also claimed that young non-resident Indians, including those based in places such as Silicon Valley, were showing interest in investing in Bengal.
“There is only one way forward: pure democracy, pure politics and development,” Bhattacharya said.
He claimed the state had moved away from the culture of syndicates and political interference and said the BJP's emphasis would remain on development, investment and employment.
The BJP leader also referred to allegations concerning the treatment of animals and the alleged supply of expired medicines, describing such incidents as serious failures of governance and demanding accountability.
Bhattacharya said the Rejinagar and Nandigram results had demonstrated that voters wanted a change in the state's political culture.
“The political perception has changed. The people have given their answer,” he said.
UNI SEN RSA
Tags: #BJP's Rejinagar win shows minorities want development# not identity politics: WB party chief Samik
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