The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its mobilisation efforts in poll-bound West Bengal by fielding its only woman chief minister, Rekha Gupta, in a strategic bid to consolidate support among women voters — a demographic widely regarded as a core support base of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
At her maiden interaction with BJP women workers in Kolkata, held at the Science City auditorium, Gupta sought to draw parallels between Banerjee and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. Addressing party workers during the daylong programme, she remarked that just as she had “ousted” Kejriwal in Delhi, it was now “Didi’s turn” in Bengal.
Gupta criticised both leaders for allegedly prioritising self-promotion and obstructing Central government initiatives. Referring to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, she stated that Kejriwal had resisted its implementation in Delhi and alleged that Banerjee had followed a similar course in West Bengal. The outreach programme was designed to shape the BJP’s women-focused campaign narrative, particularly on issues of women’s safety and alleged atrocities under the current state administration.
Strategic Outreach to Women Voters
Senior BJP leaders indicated that projecting Gupta — a woman chief minister who led the party’s victory over the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi — is a calculated move aimed at strengthening the party’s connect with women voters in Bengal. Party insiders believe that deploying Gupta may resonate more effectively with female constituents than other leaders.
Since assuming office in 2011, Banerjee has cultivated significant support among women through a series of welfare initiatives, including Kanyashree, Rupashree, and Lakshmir Bhandar. The latter, launched in 2021, is widely credited with consolidating women’s votes in favour of the Trinamool Congress during its third term. Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the monthly stipend under Lakshmir Bhandar was increased by ₹500 in a renewed effort to strengthen this support base.
BJP leaders acknowledge that women voters constitute nearly half of the electorate in West Bengal, making their support critical to the party’s electoral prospects. Party sources suggest that even in households where male members vote for the BJP, women voters have largely favoured the ruling Trinamool Congress — a dynamic the BJP is keen to alter.
Continued Engagement and Campaign Expansion
Gupta affirmed her commitment to sustaining regular engagement in Bengal to energise the BJP’s women’s wing. Urging party workers to mobilise with determination, she invoked the imagery of “Durga” rising to confront challenges in the state.
State BJP Mahila Morcha president Phalguni Patra announced that similar women-centric programmes, including the Shakti Swarupa Nari Samabesh, would be organised across various divisions of Bengal in the lead-up to the elections. Gupta is expected to participate in these events, alongside the party’s broader Parivartan Yatra campaign.
During her address, Gupta also referenced recent incidents of violence against women in the state, including the RG Kar case, calling for collective resolve to bring about political change. She further criticised Banerjee’s appearance before the Supreme Court, alleging misplaced priorities in addressing issues related to infiltrators rather than crimes against women.
Trinamool Congress Responds
The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) swiftly responded to Gupta’s remarks, turning the spotlight on law and order concerns in Delhi. In a statement posted on its official social media handle, the party questioned the Delhi government’s record on crime, air pollution, and women’s safety.
The TMC cited recent incidents in the national capital, including reports of violent crime, rising air pollution levels, and missing women and girls, asserting that governance challenges in Delhi undermine Gupta’s criticism of West Bengal.
As both parties sharpen their narratives ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the mobilisation of women voters is emerging as a central battleground in Bengal’s evolving political landscape.
