The Trinamool Congress sharply rebutted Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that the Bharatiya Janata Party would secure a two-thirds majority in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, labeling his predictions as unfounded and predicting a severe setback for the BJP. Senior TMC leader and Education Minister Bratya Basu dismissed Shah's claims as empty rhetoric, forecasting that the party would struggle to win even 50 seats in the upcoming polls.

Basu characterized Shah's repeated visits to the state as futile, likening them to tourist excursions that yield no electoral advantage. He expressed confidence in a decisive TMC victory, stating that the BJP faces a humiliating defeat as public sentiment firmly opposes their narrative ahead of the elections scheduled post-April 2026.

Shah, during a press conference in Kolkata, reiterated the BJP's ambition to form the next government with an overwhelming mandate, vowing to identify and expel infiltrators while criticizing the TMC administration on multiple fronts, including women's safety. He questioned advisories suggesting women avoid venturing out after evening hours, comparing the situation unfavorably to historical periods and accusing the state government of failing constitutional obligations.

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TMC Minister Sashi Panja countered Shah's remarks on women's security by inviting him to witness festive seasons in Bengal, where women participate freely in celebrations, and highlighted prompt administrative action against isolated incidents. She accused the BJP of shielding convicted individuals in high-profile cases and obstructing the Aparajita Bill aimed at stringent punishment for sexual offenders, while defending the state's economic progress with substantial investments and a strong MSME ranking.

Additional TMC voices, including spokesperson Jay Prakash Majumdar, rejected Shah's denial of temple-mosque polarization in politics, pointing to recent national elections as evidence of such strategies that Bengal voters have consistently repudiated. The exchange underscores escalating verbal confrontations between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP as preparations intensify for the crucial 2026 contest.

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