Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday intensified the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign in West Bengal, declaring that while “only names are being deleted now” from electoral rolls under the Special Summary Revision (SIR), alleged infiltrators would be “removed from the state” once the party assumes power. Speaking at the launch of the BJP’s ‘Poriborton Yatra’ in Mathurapur, South 24 Parganas, Shah framed border security and citizenship as central issues ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Shah’s remarks followed the Election Commission’s post-SIR rolls, which recorded 63.66 lakh deletions — approximately 8.3 per cent of the electorate — reducing West Bengal’s voter base to just over 7.04 crore. Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh electors were placed in the “under adjudication” category, subject to further scrutiny in the coming weeks, marking the most extensive electoral reset in the state since 2002.

At the rally, Shah accused the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of enabling infiltration through “appeasement politics,” saying, “Bengal is a bordering state. The TMC cannot ensure security because they allow infiltration. Only the BJP can provide security to a bordering state like Bengal.” He clarified that Hindu refugees would not be affected by these measures, reiterating the party’s stance under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

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The campaign pitch targeted the Matua-dominated refugee belt across North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and parts of north Bengal, where deletions and adjudications reportedly affected nearly 40 per cent of the community, potentially influencing 40–50 Assembly seats that form a core BJP vote bank. Shah described the ‘Poriborton Yatra’ as a mission to “free Bengal from infiltrators, corruption, and syndicate raj,” linking border security with broader governance issues.

Shah widened his attack on the TMC to include alleged corruption, fiscal mismanagement, and dynastic ambitions. Citing purported scams in teacher recruitment, municipal appointments, cattle smuggling, ration distribution, MGNREGA, and housing schemes, he accused several TMC leaders of institutionalized graft. He also criticised the state government’s nomination of former DGP Rajeev Kumar to the Rajya Sabha, referencing his involvement in high-profile cases like the Saradha chit fund investigation.

In a pointed political dig, Shah alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee aimed to install her nephew Abhishek Banerjee in power, warning voters against returning the TMC to office. He promised that a BJP government would implement the Seventh Pay Commission, fill vacant posts transparently, ensure women’s safety, and prosecute those responsible for attacks on BJP workers, framing the electoral contest as a choice between governance, security, and political accountability.

Also Read: West Bengal Electoral Roll Final Publication Due Saturday; 60 Lakh Electors Under Judicial Review