"TMC’s Fortress Cracking" BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh Challenges Didi as Party Launches Parivartan Yatra in Bengal

With the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections inching closer, the BJP has stepped up its mobilisation through the Parivartan Yatra, positioning North Bengal as a decisive battleground. Dr. Shankar Ghosh, MLA from Siliguri, has placed the BJP's Parivartan Yatra at the heart of what he describes as a historic shift unfolding across North Bengal.

According to Dr. Ghosh, the Parivartan Yatra is not merely a political campaign but an aspirational movement. He believes that spontaneous participation by people across districts signals deep-rooted dissatisfaction with the ruling dispensation and a growing trust in the BJP's promise of a "double-engine" government, with the same party in power both at the Centre and the State.

Dr. Ghosh argued that the people of North Bengal, including districts such as Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, and Alipurduar, have been historically deprived of equitable development. He claimed that this neglect has generated widespread anger against the state government led by Mamata Banerjee and her party, the All India Trinamool Congress. He asserted that while the central government has invested significantly in railways, bridges, and road infrastructure, land-related constraints, a state subject, have often impeded further progress. Dr. Ghosh calls out the clash between the state an inhibitor of development in North Bengal as he vouches for the double engine Sarkar in the state too.

Positioning the Centre's railway initiatives as a major achievement, the BJP leader highlighted the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express in North Bengal besides five additional trains that connect North Bengal to western and southern cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kanyakumari. Criticised the state government led by Mamta Banerjee for ignoring the North Bengal's interest, Dr. Ghosh said, railway is not merely about travel convenience, but about economic mobility, healthcare access, education opportunities, and integration of North Bengal into the national mainstream.

In this exclusive conversation with Oneindia,the BJP MLA repeatedly remarked his concern over the migrant labors issue from the northern part of the state which causes economic and emotional distress for local families. He further added that an apt industrialization in the region could end this plight.

Analysing the social dynamics of the poll-bond state, Dr. Ghosh also discussed the political mood within the Rajbanshi community. He alleged that repeated instances of disrespect by certain TMC leaders like Udayan Guha had alienated the community from the ruling party. He dismissed suggestions that recent political realignments would significantly alter grassroots support, asserting that Rajbanshi voters remain firmly opposed to the TMC. He referred to incidents in Phasidewa and Nagrakata, alleging land disputes, violence against Adivasis, and police action against protestors. He also cited a brutal attack on himself and MP Khagen Murmu in Nagrakata, claiming that such events have deepened distrust toward the ruling establishment among tribal communities.

On defections and shifting allegiances, including the move of certain BJP leaders to TMC, Dr. Ghosh downplayed their impact. He pointed to electoral data from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to argue that temporary vote shifts have reversed and that anti-incumbency against the state government is growing stronger. He expressed confidence that the BJP will win more than 40 out of the 54 Assembly seats in North Bengal in 2026, crediting grassroots mobilisation and the momentum of the Parivartan Yatra.

Dr. Ghosh highlighted that due to sustained efforts and engagement with Union Ministers, the Mahadanda National Sanctuary has recently been declared an eco-sensitive zone by the central government. He described this as an example of development aligned with environmental protection, a model he wishes to replicate across North Bengal.

Beyond electoral calculations, the Siliguri MLA articulated an ambitious vision: transforming Siliguri into a Capital of culture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, not just for North Bengal but for the entire northeastern corridor of India. He emphasized inclusive growth that spans communities and districts, arguing that regional unity is essential for sustainable progress.

Dr. Ghosh and the BJP must have their ground for the poll enthusiasm, however, the ruling All India Trinamool Congress continues to retain administrative control and a consolidated vote base across large parts of the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remains a dominant political force, particularly in southern Bengal, where welfare schemes and grassroots organisational strength have kept the party's core vote bank largely intact.

Political observers note that while anti-incumbency may surface in pockets, TMC's booth-level machinery and a rock-solid minority vote-bank that constitutes about 30 percent of the overall votes in the state, still backing Didi while it continues to lure voters across communities unless a starch polarization props up which as of now looks highly unlikely in the state. Of-late ruling parties have another brahmashtra 'Freebees', striking pro-incumbency in a way. Beneficiary-driven outreach model provide the TMC with structural advantages going into 2026. The BJP needs to find a work-out around.