Mamata Or Rahul Gandhi Or Modi: Who Has Edge In Phase 2 Of Bengal Polls As Campaigning Ends Today?

Added: 2026-05-04

[00:00:00]Good evening and welcome to Blueprint exclusive exclusive by Matavas Gupalak Krishna as campaigning draws to a close in West Bengal. Star campaigners are making their final push to sway voters ahead of phase two. From the streets of Kolkata to the industrial belts of Barakpaw, the big guns are out. Chief Minister Bamavanji has conducted relentless podiatras across the state invoking Bengali pride in her outreach to the electorate. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amita have made key assurances to the people of Bengal. The home minister has promised fearfree polls and continued CRPF protection even after the elections while PM Modi has outlined a series of guarantees focused on strengthening employment prospects and boosting economic growth in the state. Let's listen in to this message from the prime minister.

[00:00:54]Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

[00:01:33]Now, as campaigning draws to a close, in fact, the star campaigners are making the final push as far as swaying voters ahead of phase 2 is concerned. We've seen, of course, how it's a do or die sprint for TMC and the BJP. Let's tell you why this battle is important for both the sides. First up, let's tell you about the seats that are going to the polls. There's of course 142 seats as far as this particular phase is concerned and TMC with 123 seats and BJP with 18 seats in 2021. This is a phase in which the BJP will have to do exceedingly well if it has to actually form a government in the state of West Bengal. These seats however are spread across eight districts. There's Kolkata south Kolkata north north 24 paranas south 24 parnas harah hugli nadya purba and bardavan which are part of this particular election remember that most of the seats going for polls in phase 2 have been strongholds for TMC let's also tell you about what happened during the 2021 assembly polls when these seats went for the polls in terms of Kolkata South four seats for the TMC BJP0 in terms of Kolkata North Seven seats over here up for grabs. TMC grabbing all the seven seats. In the north 24 Paraganas area there are 33 seats of which 28 went to the TMC and five to the BJP. In S 24 Paraganas 31 seats TMC at 30 the BJP at zero. In of there are 16 seats TMC getting all the 16 seats. Here in Huggli there are 18 seats where TMC is getting 14 and BJP is getting four. In Nadia there are 17 seats where TMC got eight and here the BJP managed to get some amount of seats at nine more than the TMC. In Purdan 16 seats up for grabs here. TMC again getting 15 seats and BJP getting one. Let's get in a quick update from our colleagues who are joining us live. We have Rita joining us. There's also Shivam and also Abhishek joining us live. I'm going to come across to each of you coming to you first. It's been an intense campaign and as the campaign draws to a close serious questions about whether this seat this particular set of seats uh is going to make or see a huge BJP entry because if they have to come to power they will have to make a mark in the second phase as well.

[00:03:55]Well, absolutely we understand that the phase two is very very important for BJP because even though in the first phase BJP's house or the hold was in North Bengal but in South Bengal BJP actually has to prove itself. Now we are standing here at Bavaniur as Chief Minister Mamta Banji's last campaign ahead of the phase to end it here you can see that people have gathered here and the number of people who are actually showing encouragement or holding the faith in Mtab Banji's youth. We'll get a word from them. What is the feeling of the ground people? The ground pulse will actually reflect the face too.

[00:04:38]BJP 100% absolutely. So you see the the main chachi point of woman safety and security that was raised by BJP that has been the woman of Kolkata says that we are very safe but it is the danger point for BJP out here and hence they want for MTA to retrieve her fourth seat the fourth term again in Bengal and people of Bengal at least the Kolkata vote the >> okay that's of course the women voters of Bengal speaking clearly supporters of bumab banji there but stay with us let me also get in a quick word from abhishek Abishek. Now the last set of phase of campaigning has seen active campaigns by not just the prime minister, not just Mabanji but even Rahul Gandhi who has been attacking Mtabanji in the TMC extensively over a number of issues.

[00:05:54]Rahul Gandhi BJP Uttar Pradesh Singh BJP starting from TMC stronghold.

[00:07:19]Stay with us. Quick word from Sham as well. Sham, you've been there for a few weeks now. What really has it, you know, on the final day of the campaign, it appears to be a narrative on one side of Bengali pride, Bengali Asmita, however one chooses to phrase it and that campaign coming in from the TMC versus the promise of Parihartan and Vikit Bangla coming in. Which narrative will succeed is the big question.

[00:07:44]Exactly Madav and from the BJP side you see three of the big names that were today here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Homer Amit Shah and the Chief Minister of UP Yoga Titnath. All three of them have sent a different messages you know confining to the same narrative. Amit Sha assuring that there will be central forces deployment so nobody needs to fear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving the vision for the future while on the other hand side Yogi saying that we will we will you know keep the Bengali identity as as as high to the prestige of every Bengali. So BJP understands that Bengali identity is something which is above any class any cast issue in this particular area of the country and that is why they're trying to capitalize on that. So different messages being sent just to make sure that the narrative being pedled by the Trinul Congress that BJP is a party of outsider doesn't work and it eventually makes the people come and vote in favor of the Bharti.

[00:08:36]>> All right, we'll have to leave it there.

[00:08:37]Sham as well as Rita and Abishek like to thank you all for your ground reports over there and clearly of course the political temperature in Bengal soaring as MTA's Mavanji's ally and leader of opposition in the Lok Saba Gandhi has continued his attack on TMC as we were just discussing he said there's no action that's been taken against the perpetrators in the RJar case accused TMC of acting similarly when the members of the BJP are involved in crimes against women and Rahul Gandhi has widened his offensive he's also targeting Kal who was campaigning for the TMC.

[00:09:10]Listen in action.

[00:09:48]Come wagon parking lot.

[00:10:04]Brush pollution infrastructure fly.

[00:10:21]Take this across to our guest. Now joining us is Dr. Nikil Prasun BJP spokesperson. We have Pratim Ranjan both senior journalist joining us. We also have Shubankar Bajarayara political analyst and advocate. Nikil Jan political analyst is also with us. Uh Shubanka let me start with you. Is the entire narrative of Pivartan of Vixit Bangla that is being you know pushed forth by the BJP. How much of this is really going to make a lot of difference? Because at the end of the day it is a fact that when it came to the pura narrative that Mtab manager had promised the people of Bengal three elections ago that's not quite what was delivered. Shubankar please unmute yourself and speak.

[00:11:06]>> Hello. Am I audible now?

[00:11:08]>> Yes, we can. Go ahead. We can hear you now.

[00:11:09]>> Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

[00:11:12]See when we talk about Purihotan that means a lot for the West Bengal where the left left uh they actually left the state with uh a lot of you know shortcomings that Maj really had to fight with and the biggest uh thing that was there was that that mentality in itself that thought process in itself which took a long time to grow talk took a long time to come up as well and when you say that the leftist this mentality that that still stays and the interesting part is that the the same leaders have plugged into TMC as well as in BJP I should say the largely in BJP.

[00:11:53]So if you say that uh you know that mindset exists and if P month of Energy wins what happens next. So the same thing you know the same problem you might you find with the BJP itself because the most of the leaders who have shifted to BJP were from from the left the same leftist mindset you know that manta 15 years ago so it remains with the BJP today mostly so you are not expecting a lot of change a lot of >> no but why has TMC failed to deliver sir >> pardon >> why has TMC fa let me bring in the BJP panelist Nikl, you want to respond to that? He's saying that the leftist mindset is now reflected in the BJP. Is that the ground reality?

[00:12:38]>> No. No. Actually, the 15-year rules of Tinmul has been a saga of blatant atrocities against women, mainstreaming of violence, in institutionalization of corruption, regularization of syndicates and attrition in employment and industrialization of a ineitable scale. And there has been an erosion of Bengali pride. what they have done with the culture of Bengal. We have got a track record of good governance across the country in the center as well as in various states. How can that be compared and what we have done for Bengal? We have given classical status to Bengali.

[00:13:12]We have you know erected this statue of Subhas Chandra in front of India day. We have we have been instrumental in according the this intangible cultural heritage of humanity status to dura puja and you know one day matan has been accorded the prestigy that it it deserved also all the strangers have been made mandatorily required to be sung. So these are certain factors which are required to be taken into cognizance while dealing with you cannot say that BJP is going to be you know the you know afflicted with the same maladies that trinul has been that is not the case we have got a track record to disprove it that's why there has been a substantial support look at you know look at the people around in the streets everyone wants paran look at the teenagers look at the genzine people across the board in Bengal they're helping to execute paran this time around that is going to get manifested through votes >> and But main problem of is that is that not not a single precious Bengali life got lost in the first phase. That is the main thing.

[00:14:13]>> Okay. Shankar Shubankar I want you to respond to that because at the end of the day the pro you know Mtabanji may be going with the issue of Bengali pride etc to the people of West Bengal but there are much bigger issues employment you know the kind of industrial growth and development that was expected. None of that has happened on ground.

[00:14:31]>> Uh my mistake mother first of all my apologies. I actually started with uh discussing you know with fact understood that was my mistake. It is the war of narrative over here. So I have to answer to the narratives basically. So now what Nikl Prasoon left me with all the narratives. So let me answer that number one. Let me tell you the funniest part of it. when they talk about uh you know mahila and women safety the four of the top crime against women states are all BJP rules BJP has to answer to most of the Indian state that is 20 states under you 20 states to first of all ensure the safety of the women in 20 states which you couldn't do four of the top lead in crime against women are all BJP ruled so shanka there are currently elections on in the state of West Bengal for heaven sake we discing ing West Bengal. Are you trying to say RJR is not going to be an issue?

[00:15:29]>> So, okay. Okay. I I understand. Mad. I understand. Okay. Fine. Also, BJP couldn't actually deliver to 20. But they will let us.

[00:15:36]>> I'm not saying that. But let's discuss issues in Bengal, please.

[00:15:38]>> No. No. I accept. I accept. Mad. I accept. They can deliver to Bengal. What they couldn't do? Even Raan Manti said giving 3,000 rupees in Bengal which is still the Delhi people are waiting for you. So I I understand. I completely understand. And >> let me let me get other panelists as well. Pratim Ranjan Bose Pratim Rajan Bose direct question on the entire issue of development the promise of puran versus the issue of Bengali pride which narrative will really succeed we don't know but that's certainly how this election seems to be poised >> yeah we have to see it also because the state has reached to such a pass that development agenda is missing you have heard from the ruling party that spoke about fish and throughout the uh election campaign there was No development agenda. They say that cash and outs as development. I mean this is a very sorry state of affairs. So but that is and there is a history. Every government every time regime changed over here is on the back of violence and by chasing away industry. So that has been the trend in West Bengal. Uh we whether that uh change comes this time is to be seen. And that said uh other other parts about I think there are three things which will play significant role in this uh whether uh I mean power tills or to whichever side there were tribal boards women and the uh Hindi speaking boards. So tribal part is over almost and it is the Hindi speaking part which will come this on this phase and women votes is something to be seen what happens in the state throughout. So this is I mean this is the gist of whole state of affairs >> right and in fact the women voters who we just spoke to of course seem to be dieh hard supporters of buma maraji so we'll have to see how that plays out but I'd like to bring in nicl j on one aspect nicl j you know very curious set of statements that Rahul Gandhi has given and certainly of course when there's an attack that has taken place on his party worker when Rahul Gandhi speaks out on that there is no surprises but when he talks about mtavanji and issues of corruption raises sharda nardrada etc and at the same time accuses the central government of misusing agencies. One really wonders what is the coherent strategy. Is he trying to you know put his alliance partners on the mat because once again he has attacked the Bumabanji government on law and order and other issues.

[00:18:03]>> Madam let me point out a couple of things very clearly. The DMC is not part of the India alliance. Number one.

[00:18:08]Number two the Congress party is contesting on all 294 seats in the West Bengal election.

[00:18:12]>> TMC has pulled out of the India alliance.

[00:18:14]>> DMC is not a part of India alliance. I can show it to you. on many different incidents the TMC and the Amhadmi party do stand with members of the India lands and the Congress party it's an issue based support but they are technically not a part of the India lands and is the Amhadi party be that as it may in the West Bengal state elections 294 seats the DMC is contesting 294 seats the Congress is the Congress is contesting a majority of them the two players are opposed to each other and nobody can deny from the fact that there is indeed a serious law and order issue in the state of West Bengal and of course Matabanerji as the leader of the government has achieved minister is the one to be blamed is the one to be taken jud and that is exactly what Rahul Gandhi is doing. I don't see anything wrong with that. But what Rahul Gandhi is also saying is that Mamatab Aner's uh you know poor control on law and order is actually what is allowing for the BJP to make inroads in West Bengal which is a much bigger danger than anything else that we talk about and as very well evidenced by the BJP's own campaign that they don't really understand the culture of Bengal or let alone even the culture of India. They talk about wand which and they say it is ridiculous. It was the Congress party and Dr. Abinda Takur and other people from Bengal who were the forwards in the conversation.

[00:19:22]>> Now Nikl I want first of all Shubanker I want you to answer. Have you heard of this breaking news that Nicl Jane just gave us that TMC is not part of the India alliance block at the center? I was not aware of it. Maybe you have some other insight. Maybe your alliance partners have fought and not declared it to us.

[00:19:37]>> Madav actually uh actually I'm not not amazed and I have to do a lot of defense defense against all these guys actually.

[00:19:45]So the funny thing is you know when it comes to Rahul Gandhi I remember the proverb that we learned in a very early childhood rolling stone gathers for moss. So uh Rahul Gandhi is that kind of leader who is harming his own party much more than he's harming the entire block.

[00:20:02]So when uh Nikl comes up and says that uh uh TMC is not a part of India block, Ahmadi party is not a part of India blockad officially pulled up. I don't remember hearing the statement when officially as at the national level that's what I'm saying madav. Uh so I guess then India block according to Nikl will be only uh the Congress party only because rest all parties do come together on some occasion or the other but it is the Congress which we never find it standing with either of either of the opposition parties over here be it Sapar be it any party in every different state because the problem with them is it is their fight for survival in every state election it is their fight of survival So that doesn't make them you know uh uh the leading group of India alliance ever and that is why the India alliance is suffering so much of uh uh you know attacks and and that is the reason the India block cannot sign that much that it could have been and I guess somewhere the India block has to ahead it has to do without congress till the time uh government alternative is found at the center. So that is the thing what I think Nikl Jan was also saying from the other way around but uh the thing remains of course the congress is not a part of uh >> you know one question you have to answer what is happening in this election is quite alarming and I think it would be alarming for anybody who's you know watching what's happening with the India alliance because you have Rahul Gandhi not campaigning actively with Mr. MK Stalin there are attempts to reach out at TVK attempts for very hard bargaining statements against the DMK that are coming in from Tamil Nadu and now we are seeing a similar sort of situation this time Rahul Gandhi openly speaking out against Mtabanji while they may not have an electoral alliance for the purpose of the state Mtabanji and TMC very much within the opposition India block at the national level like I said that you would not be able to find a single meeting of the India alliance that has been attended by TMC since August last year and that's I my point remains simple that when you talk about corner >> they still haven't pulled out so you're factually not correct over there >> I'm not able to find the article perhaps I am I stand corrected but be that as it may my point remains that at the national level in the parliament when to counter the Modi government the Aadi party TMC congress party all these parties come across come together and stand against foresty against the Modi government but we are talking about state elections let's not forget that the congress in Kerala fought against the CPM which is very much a part of the India alliance has been a part of the UPM And pretty much every every time you know for decades CPM and Congress have been in an an alliance at the national level yet they continue to fight against each other at the state level which is exactly what we're seeing in West Bengal between the Congress and TMC and uh similar thing we saw in the local body elections of Maharashtra when the Aknach India faction was contesting with sorry against the BJP and Ajit.

[00:23:01]>> Is this a sign of things to come? Is this a bigger national template and what are going to be the national implications if alliance partners are seen bickering uh in election campaigns such as this? These are some of the important questions that arise. Dr. Nicl Prasim, Pratim Ranjan Bos, Shankar, Parachara advocate Nicl Jen like to thank all of you for joining us this evening.