West Bengal elections: Mamata’s Rule and What the BJP Says It Will Do

Poonam Sharma
As West Bengal gets ready for another heated election, the political atmosphere is full of promises, arguments, and real worries from regular people. Mamata Banerjee’s TMC and the BJP are the two main players in the race, and both are working hard to gain voters’ trust. It means for the people who live there. Let’s take a look at it.

Mamata Banerjee’s Rule: The Good, the Bad, and the Questions

For more than ten years, Mamata Banerjee has been a major political figure in Bengal. People are tired now  for the increasing unemployment, her inability to connect with people on the street, and her plans for women and people who are less fortunate. For example, many women in Bengal get cash help every month, usually between ₹1500 and ₹1800 but it has not increased while the costs are increasing. This can be a real lifeline for families who are having trouble making ends meet. There are also no  special announcements for farmers and people who work in rural areas, as well as plans for more help for farmers.

But this is where things get tricky in real life. A lot of money has been spent on welfare by Mamata’s government, but more and more people are questioning the state’s law and order situation. There have been a lot of news stories about crimes against women, and some people think that just adding more police officers or making new districts won’t solve the bigger safety problems. People didn’t like her comment that women should stay off the streets after 8 p.m. It sounded like she was blaming the victims instead of fixing the system.

Unemployment is another problem. A lot of young people say they don’t see enough real job openings, and thousands of them leave government schools because they aren’t good enough or have enough resources. People who don’t like Mamata’s government say that even though it talks about jobs and safety nets, the reality on the ground, especially for young people, is very different. There are also rumors of favoritism, with TMC supporters supposedly getting better treatment in government jobs.

Of course, Mamata’s Bengali identity card is her best asset. She has a strong emotional connection with Bengali speakers and minorities, which makes TMC a natural choice for many people. But for some people, especially those who are sick of extortion (“tolabazi”), slow industrial growth, and the idea that political power is more important than merit, they want things to change.

BJP’s Promises: Big Numbers, Big Hopes

The BJP is coming in strong and promising to make everything bigger and better. What is their main point? Women will get twice as much money (₹3000 a month instead of TMC’s ₹1500–₹1800). Young people will get jobs or ₹3000 a month until they do. Farmers will also get more money (₹9000 a year, on top of the central government’s ₹6000). They even say they will buy paddy for ₹3100 per quintal, which is great news for farmers.

But the BJP is more than just giving people money. They are making law and order a top priority by promising women’s safety 24 hours a day, seven days a week, special police units for women, and more open government. It’s clear what they want to say: “We’ll do what TMC couldn’t.” We’ll keep you safe, find you work, and give you money.

They’re also calling for big changes, like a Uniform Civil Code, and making big promises to clean up how the government hires and posts people, which would be a big change from how things are now.

BJP’s Election Strategy: Hitting Where It Hurts

BJP’s strategy is simple but works: they point out everything TMC hasn’t done or has done wrong and say they will do it better. They remind voters of Mamata’s broken promises and use their own records in other states, like building the Ram Temple or getting rid of Article 370. They want people to think of their manifesto as a “guarantee” instead of just a list of things they want to happen.

They’re focusing on women, farmers, and young people—groups that have felt left out or ignored. The BJP wants to get people who are undecided or who feel left out of Mamata’s welfare net to vote for them by offering more money and promising real change.

TMC is all about local identity, but BJP says, “We’re for everyone—Bengali, non-Bengali, minority, and majority.” No matter who you are, you deserve safety and a chance.

What Will Be Most Important?

In the end, elections in Bengal are about more than just who promises to give the most money. It’s about trust, credibility, and which party people think will really deliver. Some voters are sick of things as they are and want new people and new ideas. Some people think that TMC, even though it has problems, knows what Bengal needs.

It’s clear that the stakes are high and both sides are doing everything they can. The promises sound good, but the real test for Bengal’s women, farmers, and young people will be what happens after the votes are counted.
Will the next government really make things better, or will things stay the same? Only time and the voters will tell.