Bengal Poster War Hints At Religious Polarisation In 2026 Polls As BJP, TMC Square Off

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Last Updated:March 18, 2025, 16:04 IST

The BJP's caller absorption connected spiritual issues suggests a strategy geared towards polarising voters on spiritual lines

The posters, appearing successful Bankura and Chuchura Hooghly, proclaim “Hindu Hindu bhai bhai, 2026 BJP Chai” (Hindus are brothers, we privation BJP successful 2026). (News18)

West Bengal elections whitethorn inactive beryllium a twelvemonth away, but posters advocating for Hindu unity and a BJP triumph successful 2026 person stirred contention successful the state. The posters, appearing successful Bankura and Chuchura Hooghly, proclaim “Hindu Hindu bhai bhai, 2026 BJP Chai" (Hindus are brothers, we privation BJP successful 2026).

The posters person sparked statement astir whether religion volition beryllium a deciding origin successful the upcoming elections. Suresh Shau, a section BJP fig who allegedly enactment up 1 of the posters, argued that rising “Jihadi activities" and caller incidents of idol desecration necessitate Hindu unity.

“The mode Jihadi activities are expanding successful Bengal and the mode idols person been damaged successful the authorities successful the past fewer days, Hindus should beryllium agreed and that’s wherefore specified slogans person been given," Shau said.

However, Locket Chatterjee, BJP campaigner from Hooghly successful 2024, distanced the enactment from the posters, attributing the sentiment to a nationwide “Hindutva wave" that intensified aft the Maha Kumbh. Despite her denial, the BJP’s caller absorption connected spiritual issues suggests a strategy geared towards polarising voters on spiritual lines.

With a important number colonisation successful Bengal (over 30 per cent), this strategy seemingly aims to consolidate the bulk vote. Political analysts judge that the 2026 predetermination mightiness witnesser a fierce “Dharmayudh" (religious war) betwixt the BJP and the ruling TMC.

TMC leaders, meanwhile, person denounced the BJP’s tactics. Minister Shobhondev Chatterjee believes that the strategy volition backfire arsenic the radical of Bengal cull communal politics.

“They [BJP] tried respective formulae successful 2021 but failed. This time, they are trying to play the religion card. This volition person nary effect connected voters. People of Bengal bash not enactment specified communal politics."

In effect to the BJP’s posters, TMC has enactment up their own, echoing the operation but questioning the rising prices and the cardinal government’s alleged neglect of Bengal. The TMC posters ask, “Hindu Hindu Bhai Bhai, but wherever is our afloat minister?" [to question lack of furniture ministers from Bengal] and “Hindu Hindu bhai bhai, wherever is the state rebate?"

While the BJP has been accused of trying to pander to the majority, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has travel nether occurrence from the BJP for attending Iftar parties and visiting Furfura Sharif, a salient Sufi shrine. In response, Banerjee defended her actions, stating that she visits each spiritual places arsenic Bengal is simply a secular state.

As the governmental ambiance heats up, lone clip volition archer if the 2026 elections volition beryllium fought connected spiritual grounds.

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First Published:

March 18, 2025, 13:53 IST

News elections Bengal Poster War Hints At Religious Polarisation In 2026 Polls As BJP, TMC Square Off