The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is undergoing a major strategic shift in West Bengal, with senior leader Samik Bhattacharya appointed as the new head of the state unit ahead of the crucial assembly elections next year. Moving away from its earlier Hindutva-centric campaign, the party is now spotlighting what it calls Bengal’s “cultural degradation” under the Trinamool Congress government.
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT and media cell and the party’s key strategist in the state, has released a series of video clips allegedly exposing how Trinamool-affiliated student leaders are misusing college campuses and union offices for sexual exploitation and abuse of power. One such viral clip shows a student leader receiving a head massage from a female student — a video yet to be independently verified by NDTV.
Once celebrated as the “Renaissance City” in the 19th century, the BJP now accuses West Bengal of suffering from a crumbling education system and widespread cultural decline. The party has openly criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been in power for over 14 years, blaming her governance for the current state of affairs in academics and social values.
Malviya also pointed to a growing trend among students from Bengal who are choosing to study in other states like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Odisha, citing a lack of quality education and safe environments within the state.
The BJP has further sharpened its attack on women’s safety in Bengal, citing incidents such as the Sandeshkhali case — where a former Trinamool strongman was accused of sexually exploiting women — the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case, and a recent rape at a Kolkata law college.
A BJP fact-finding team, led by former Mumbai police chief Satya Pal Singh, has demanded a judicial probe into the law college rape case, underlining the gravity of the issue.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, once a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, revealed that Trinamool’s student leaders have been linked to at least 50 incriminating photographs showcasing the misuse of their positions.
As the Trinamool Congress prepares for its annual ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally on July 21, the BJP has announced a counter-campaign — the Kanya Suraksha Yatra, a state-wide initiative focused on women’s safety. The BJP Yuva Morcha has also launched the Uttar Kanya Abhiyan, aiming to highlight the ruling party’s failures.
Mr. Adhikari plans to lead the campaign from North Bengal. However, the BJP’s plans have hit a roadblock as Siliguri Police Commissioner C. Sudhakar has asked the party to cancel the event. The BJP has stated it will legally challenge this directive in the Jalpaiguri circuit bench.
With Bengal’s political landscape heating up, the BJP’s recalibrated narrative seeks to connect deeply with voters by tapping into concerns over education, women’s safety, and cultural identity — steering the campaign toward real-life issues over ideological rhetoric.
