BJP lacks 'acceptable' face to counter West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: RSS magazine

KOLKATA: The assembly polls in 2026 will be an acid test for Bengal BJP, which is struggling to find a face to counter CM Mamata Banerjee, RSS has said in its organisational publication 'Swastika'. It added that the results of the Lok Sabha elections in the state should not demoralise workers, but the party needed to understand Trinamool Congress's politics beyond welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar.
The recent article, analysing the LS poll results, said Banerjee and Trinamool's strength lay not only in "dole politics" but far beyond, a fact BJP needed to explore. It said BJP had not managed to get any "acceptable and powerful" face to counter Banerjee. "BJP had to face crushing defeat in two elections after 2019. The 2026 (assembly poll) will be its acid test... it needs to shed the defeated and incapable candidates and rebuild itself as an indigenous party in the state," it said. The article also pointed at "weak organisation" and lack of "communication with the people".
Another article in 'Swastika' said BJP could have held on to its six seats if it had a stronger organisation. "BJP could get 40% votes in 146 assembly segments. But there are mandal presidents who are unaware of the number of booths in the mandals. It is important to give the responsibility to the right person," it said.
In an editorial in the issue, 'Swastika' said the results in Bengal were below expectations. "But BJP workers will have to understand that the party managed to secure a win in 12 seats in the adverse situation," it said.
The editorial claimed fear and intimidation also influenced people into voting for Trinamool. "The party could increase its vote share by 2.5% against what it got in 2019 and BJP lost 1.5% votes. While Trinamool's dole politics and appeasement policies have helped it to secure its vote bank, CPM-Congress combine added to their vote shares. People thought Trinamool was more powerful than Left Front to stop BJP," it said.