Bangal Mein Bhajpa by Manjit Thakur [Paperback]

The election year of 2024 began with the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and the saffron flags with "Ramnamis" fluttering in the streets signaled the shifting winds of the electoral atmosphere. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power at the Centre for over a decade, is now seeking to expand its base in regions where growth opportunities still exist. One such state is West Bengal, where BJP’s charismatic leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, faces a strong challenger in the form of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Since independence, first the Jana Sangh and then the BJP have made every possible attempt to gain a foothold in Bengal. Once defined as a bastion of the Left, the political landscape of Bengal has gradually shifted since 2016. The state has now become strategically crucial for the BJP. After the Left Front's strong performance in the 2006 assembly elections, its support base steadily eroded. Mamata Banerjee delivered her best performance yet in the 2021 assembly elections. So, the question now is: Is it time for the BJP to take center stage in the state’s politics?

The BJP has 'nationalism' and 'Ram Lalla'—symbols that have proven effective even in Bengal in this age of social media reels. On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee continues to rely on Bengali identity and cultural narratives. The clash between nationalism and sub-nationalism is making Bengal’s electoral battle all the more compelling.

This book not only narrates the BJP's (and the Sangh Parivar's) journey in Bengal in detail, but also tells the political story of Bengal from independence to the present day.