By Vidya Shankar Rai
Lucknow, May 6 (UNI) While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victories in three of the five state assembly elections, it was the triumph in West Bengal that captured national attention. For BJP leaders, this win represents a landmark achievement.
In an exclusive interview with UNI, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister JPS Rathore, who spent several months in West Bengal during the campaign, described the win as a historic breakthrough after decades of persistent effort, the BJP had succeeded in breaking this stronghold, making the achievement truly special for the party.
In the coming days, the BJP intends to work with honesty and diligence to bring about change, rather than pursuing a spirit of revenge.
JPS Rathore discussed the Bengal elections in detail. He said that Mamata Banerjee failed to recognize the undercurrent of public sentiment. The electorate was so eager for change that they were determined to achieve it at any cost. The non-Muslim community in Bengal voted for the BJP in a united manner, resulting in a landslide victory.
Rathore said that Mamata Banerjee failed to recognize the undercurrent of public sentiment in the Bengal elections. The public was so angry that they wanted change at all costs. The non-Muslim community in Bengal voted for the BJP in a completely integrated manner, resulting in such a landslide victory.
Indeed, Rathore, considered an expert in micro-management, swayed the electoral mathematics in the BJP’s favor in several key assembly constituencies. The BJP had fielded four ministers and one former minister from Uttar Pradesh in West Bengal for the elections beginning in October.
For electoral purposes, West Bengal was divided into five regions, with three regions assigned to state Cooperation Minister JPS Rathore, former Cabinet Minister Suresh Rana, and Uttarakhand Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat. Cooperation Minister JPS Rathore, who had previously headed the election war room in Uttar Pradesh, was responsible for 35 assembly constituencies. The BJP won 33 of these 35 constituencies.
Responding to a question about the BJP’s strategy in Bengal, Rathore said, "The party had previously been perceived as an urban-centric force. However, in Bengal, the opposite was true: the BJP performed stronger in rural areas than in urban centers."
This success was attributed to "careful strategy and meticulous booth-level management." He emphasized that the "real challenge now is to fulfill the responsibilities that lie ahead." Most media outlets focused only on big cities and did not visit villages, which prevented them from understanding the true situation on the ground.
Rathore said, "The BJP's massive victory didn't happen overnight. The party has worked hard for decades to achieve this. Last election, the party won 77 seats, but we fell far short of forming a government. At that time, the biggest challenge was keeping our MLAs united. The biggest threat we faced was the possibility of MLAs leaving the party. Seven MLAs did leave, but the party managed to control the situation effectively, preventing a larger exodus. As a result, the BJP now stands firmly on its own in Bengal.”
He added that looking at the voting patterns in Bengal in the last three elections: the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2021 Assembly elections, and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections-shows that the BJP received around 40 percent of the vote in each of these three elections. The challenge was to increase that vote share by five to seven percent. The party aimed to achieve this target, ensuring victory in Bengal, which was accomplished in 2026. The increased vote share was a clear indicator of success.
Regarding the efforts of Home Minister Amit Shah and National General Secretary Sunil Bansal, Rathore noted that preparations began well before the election was announced. The Election Commission conducted voting in two phases, preventing anti-social elements from moving between locations and engaging in hooliganism. Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Bengal for approximately 15 days during the election, and Sunil Bansal closely monitored the entire strategy. Under their leadership, party leaders from Uttar Pradesh and other states implemented that strategy down to the booth level, the results of which are evident to all.
Responding to Mamata Banerjee’s allegations, Rathore called her the “Didi of Lies,” adding that the people of Bengal recognized her falsehoods early on. He refuted her claims of mistreatment at the counting center, stating, “How could anyone mistreat a woman like Mamata Banerjee?” He assured that the BJP government will work wholeheartedly for the people.
Regarding the opposition's accusations of the BJP acting out of vengeance, Rathore stated that the BJP does not act out of vengeance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already made it clear that the focus in Bengal should be on change, not revenge. "The BJP was fighting for a change here. As for retaliation, all district officials at the organizational level have been informed of the party's intention to ensure no action is taken out of vengeance," he added.
It is noteworthy that the BJP achieved resounding success in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections, winning 206 seats. For the first time, the BJP is positioned to form a full-majority government in the state. Home Minister Amit Shah has been appointed as the observer for Bengal, and the process of government formation will be completed soon.
Rai / MBD AAB