With election dates announced on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is heading into one of its toughest rounds of Assembly elections, facing entrenched regional players in three Opposition-ruled states and one state governed by an ally.
File Photo: IANS
With election dates announced on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is heading into one of its toughest rounds of Assembly elections, facing entrenched regional players in three Opposition-ruled states and one state governed by an ally. Entering the contests from varied political positions, the party hopes to consolidate power in Assam and Puducherry while mounting strong challenges against the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.
The saffron party is expected to release its much-anticipated list of candidates this week. Sources indicate that nominees for Kerala and parts of West Bengal have already been finalised, while candidates for Assam, Tamil Nadu and the remaining constituencies in West Bengal will be decided during meetings scheduled in the coming days.
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The final lists, cleared by the party’s top decision-making body for the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, are likely to be announced soon.
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“The central leadership has been holding consultations and internal discussions as part of its preparations, with a focus on prioritising proven performers and dedicated workers over newcomers, particularly in West Bengal,” sources said, pointing to the intense regional contests ahead.
Kerala is viewed by the BJP as its “final frontier”. The southern state has long witnessed a bipolar political contest between the LDF and the United Democratic Front (UDF), a dynamic the BJP hopes to alter. In 2021, the LDF retained power with an increased seat tally, marking one of the rare instances of an alliance securing consecutive terms in the state. Banking on issues such as the Sabarimala row, development concerns and anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the BJP is focusing on strengthening its presence in urban pockets. Recent gains in local body elections have also boosted the party’s morale.
In West Bengal, the BJP secured 77 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections but has since struggled to maintain momentum amid the continued dominance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the TMC. The party is looking to leverage Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s connect with voters, infrastructure development initiatives and issues such as alleged corruption and illegal migration. However, it faces a formidable organisational challenge from the TMC at the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is aiming to secure a stronger foothold in a state dominated by Dravidian politics, where it failed to win any seats in 2021. It is seeking to take on the ruling DMK-Congress alliance through its partnership with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), while highlighting Hindutva themes and anti-corruption campaigns.
The BJP may find relatively stronger ground in Assam, where it has been in power under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The party has focused on governance, infrastructure expansion and a firm campaign against illegal infiltration from neighbouring countries. Identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants, along with safeguarding indigenous identity, remains a key political plank for the party in the state.
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