Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to hold a high-stakes meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament from West Bengal on Monday in the national capital, as controversy brews over alleged police verification drives targeting “Bangladeshi” immigrants in BJP-ruled states. The political temperature in the state has risen sharply, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accusing the Centre of orchestrating a narrative that marginalizes Bengalis and their linguistic identity.
Political Storm over “Bangladeshi” Allegations
The row, which has quickly become a flashpoint, stems from what the TMC calls “discriminatory police actions” against Bengali-speaking individuals, allegedly under the pretext of identifying illegal immigrants. The party has accused the BJP of running a campaign that vilifies an entire linguistic group in the name of national security.
Although the BJP has not officially responded to the accusations, insiders suggest the meeting called by Shah will serve as a strategy session to counter the “Bangla birodhi” (anti-Bengali) label that the TMC is aggressively pushing ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Also Read—India Debunks ‘Fake News’ Amid US Tariff Blow, Sixth Round of Talks on Cards
Modi’s Hardline Message Sets the Tone
The BJP’s position on the issue was made clear during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Durgapur in July. In a fiery address, Modi alleged that infiltration was being “encouraged” through forged documents and warned of an emerging ecosystem that threatens not just the state but also the “country and Bengali culture.”
“This is Modi’s guarantee, those who are not citizens of India and have infiltrated illegally will face action under the Constitution,” he declared.
PM Modi also accused the TMC of defying constitutional institutions and backing illegal immigrants for vote-bank politics.
TMC’s Counter-Narrative and Strategy
The Trinamool Congress has called the BJP’s rhetoric a form of “audacity” that aims to polarize the electorate. TMC leaders, including Derek O’Brien, have also criticized the Centre’s alleged plans for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list in West Bengal, an exercise currently underway in Bihar that has already triggered opposition protests.
O’Brien termed the revision as a form of “silent invisible rigging,” suggesting that it may be used to manipulate electoral rolls under the guise of demographic and border security reviews.
Meeting Timed with TMC Virtual Huddle
Interestingly, the BJP’s closed-door session coincides with a virtual meeting of TMC MPs being led by Mamata Banerjee, who is expected to lay out the party’s counter-strategy. The digital briefing is anticipated to set the tone for the next stage of the TMC’s public engagement, as many MPs are already in Delhi for the monsoon session.
Eye on 2026 and Internal Realignments
BJP’s West Bengal unit, which had hoped for better results in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is currently re-evaluating its state-level strategy.
Many MPs have expressed concerns over unclear messaging on key ideological issues and a lack of unity at the grassroots level. The Shah-led meeting is expected to heal these internal differences and refocus the party’s emphasis on voter list inspection and regional sentiments ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
While the official agenda remains under wraps, political analysts think Monday’s meeting may lay the foundation for the BJP’s next significant electoral campaign in Bengal.
