Last week, as News Ei Samay rep was strolling through Kolkata’s heritage by lanes and markets like New Market, Lake Market, and Baghajatin Market, they came across almost 50 people who were strongly opinionated about the political ideology.
“We are really scared this year. But I don’t want the BJP in my state,” said one local flower vendor in the Lake Market area when NES approached them.
Yet, for all the opinions, there was a noticeable restraint. Conversations were careful. The kind that stops midway if someone unfamiliar walks past.
Are Kolkata people hopeful for the Mamata Banerjee government?
Out of nearly 40 to 50 people approached, only a handful agreed to speak on record.
“Joy Bangla. TMC will win for sure. Joy Mamata Banerjee. Joy Abhishek Banerjee,” one same area shopkeeper lauded.
While another worshipped, “Dada, maramari hbe ei bar, khub tension e achi (Dada, I am doubting violence this time and continuously fretting over it), I hope this will not affect my business.”
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee campaigns for her party's candidates: ANI
Several political experts argue that dislodging Mamata Banerjee and the All India Trinamool Congress in West Bengal remains a near-impossible task for BJP.
But an anti-incumbency against Mamata Banerjee is certainly visible, but it is only one part of a larger churn.
Still, not everyone held back. “Joy Bangla. TMC will win at least 230 to 240 seats,” said Bhola Maitra, an exotic fish vendor in Hogg Market, New Market. Then, just a few shops away, a butcher shop owner shouted, “BJP will win. Palnato dorkar, chai BJP sarkar (We need a change, we need BJP).”
CPI(M) is out of the question?
While New Ei Samay is approaching many, the divide is almost even, half backing the ruling Trinamool Congress, the other half rooting for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Not came across many who are still sipping the Left nostalgia.
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“CPI(M) have no chance this time. They can’t even will once their stronghold, Jadavpur,” said Sristhi Bal, a Jadavpur University goer near Baghajatin Market crossing.
CPI(M) candidate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya en route to file his nomination: ANI
“CPI(M) will not score even a 1 this time,” another Gen-Z college goer told us.
Women's empowerment: TMC vs BJP
Recently, during his Burdwan rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “During the BJP regime, women and girls would be able to roam freely anywhere, anytime. A BJP government means assurance for the safety of women. This is the prime difference between a BJP government and the ruthless TMC government.”
But on the ground, the people are not that much convinced. In 2025, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report rates Kolkata as the safest city in India. Whereas, most of the BJP-ruled states are notorious for their women safety and crime.
“We delivery foods even at midnight without fear. Don’t think this would remain the same if BJP wins this time,” said one young lady delivery partner.
Notably, PM Modi repeatedly claimed that, "The TMC does not want women empowerment and reservation... The women of West Bengal will punish TMC in this election."
When NES approached another lady tea vendor, who originally hails from Motipur, Bihar, she said, “Where I come from, eveteasing is as normal as road raging slang. I have been in Kolkata for the last five years, never faced a single incident.”
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BJP supremo torches TMC over unemployment
Then comes Bengal’s most talked about and most Insta-viral issue, jobs. It has always been a pain point for the Mamata Banerjee government. Even during the Purulia rally, PM Modi torched TMC, saying, “There has been loot in youth recruitment, teacher appointments, children's mid-day meals, rural employment work, money meant for houses for the poor, village roads and even in relief meant for cyclone-hit people.”
Addressing this, one Rice Education goer told New Ei Samay, “I don’t say that Bengal is out of jobs. There are ample amounts of jobs, but the quality of jobs, and the pay scale won’t appeal to Gen-Zs.”
BJP actually have a shot this time? What math says
The BJP’s strategy leans heavily on the idea of a “silent voter.” They claimed in 2011, when public anger against the Left was not visible on the streets, but Mamata Banerjee still won. This time, the party argue a similar undercurrent exists against the TMC government.
“BJP will get 200 seats. I am 100% confident. This time, there is no competition,” BJP MP from Godda, Jharkhand, Nishikant Dubey claimed, per Ei Samay Live.
Let's have a look at what math says. During 2021, TMC had a 47.9 voter percentage, while the BJP got 38.1%. So, approximately a 10% difference. However, TMC won 213 seats, and the BJP only had 77 seats, a huge 136-seat difference.
Reports noted that TMC enjoyed 114 seats with margins above 10%.
In 2021, voter turnout was almost 6.2 crore. So, between TMC and BJP, the voter difference was 62 lakh. Now, notably, 91 lakh names were deleted across Bengal due to SIR. Of these, nearly 16 million deletions are concentrated in minority-dominated districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, and North Dinajpur, per a Times of India report. And these threse states hold 74 seats. So, with a major minority voter being deleted, if the BJP won all these 74 seats, they would hold 151 seats, which is enough to form the government (148 needed seats).
Several we came across have claimed that “illegal” or bogus entries have been removed, arguing that elections will now be conducted on a “ghost-free” voter list.
Others, however, have alleged that the state is heading into the polls after SIR deletes “people who were living in Bengal for more than 4 to 5 decades.”
Now, if you are this much into the article, then the most lingering question is: if not Mamata Banerjee, then who?
Many still see the BJP as an “outsider party,” though others dismiss that as political rhetoric. To find that answer, we will have to wait till May 4, 2026.
This year, West Bengal will cast their votes in two phases. The election will be carried out on Thursday, April 23, in 152 assembly constituencies, such as Mekliganj, Alipurduars, Maldaha, Kanthi Uttar and Kanthi Dakshin. The rest of the 142 seats will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
