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The big talking point of this episode of To The Point is the big battle for Bengal.
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00:00Battle lines sharpen in Bengal.
00:12Shah hits war mode meets party brass.
00:18Reach every booth, Shah's mandate.
00:25TMC Storm's election commission cries poll bias.
00:31TMC takes on BJP, an election watchdog.
00:50BJP versus TMC showdown. No holds barred.
00:54It's the last day of 2025 and the battle lines are only sharpening in five states which go to polls in 2026.
01:12Today was the third day of his visit to Bengal.
01:16Union Home Minister Amit Shah met party MPs and MLAs to chart out the party's strategy for the upcoming state elections.
01:25After a fiery speech yesterday where Mr Shah accused the state government of Mamata Banerjee of corruption and misgovernance,
01:34today it was about strengthening the BJP's position and preparing an electoral roadmap for Bengal.
01:41At the same time, a TMC delegation led by senior leaders met the election commission here in the national capital raising issues regarding the ongoing special intensive revision exercise playing out in Bengal.
01:57The TMC in fact said that the EC must answer the questions that are being raised particularly with the regards to the implementation happening on ground.
02:07As both sides get battle ready, it is becoming clear that this is an election which is likely to be truly the gloves are off kind of an election in Bengal,
02:21where both sides are solidifying their strategies and getting into an election mode like no other.
02:29Remember, five states go to polls in early part of 2026 around April and the results are likely to be in the first week of May as it was five years ago.
02:42Here's what happened today and then I bring in the guests.
02:44Battle lines are hardening in Bengal.
02:54A day after unleashing a fiery political broadside against Mamata Banerjee,
02:59Union Home Minister Amir Shah on Wednesday shared a key strategy meeting of BJP MPs and MLAs in Kolkata.
03:06Behind closed doors at a private hotel, Shah told party leaders to shift into election mode.
03:11Reach every booth, connect with every voter and leave no ground uncovered.
03:19The meeting lasted over an hour and was attended by 65 BJP MLAs and almost all MPs from the state.
03:28Even former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh recently pushed to the margins was back in the room.
03:34A clear message of unity as the BJP gears up for a do or die fight.
03:42The TMC on the other hand is also getting ready for the battle.
03:46A 10 member TMC delegation visited the election commission office in Delhi,
03:51accusing the poll body of stonewalling and bias.
03:53Abhishek Banerjee accused the CEC of intimidation and threw down a direct challenge to make the meeting public.
04:14As the war of words escalated, the BJP released a chilling video allegedly showing a woman and a family
04:19being attacked by a mob.
04:20The party claimed that the footage exposes the grimness of the election commission office in Delhi.
04:25As the war of words escalated, the BJP released a chilling video allegedly showing a woman and a family being attacked by a mob.
04:32The party claimed that the footage exposes the grim reality of Mamata Banerjee's Bengal accusing the TMC of failing to protect women in the state.
04:55From booth level mobilization to institutional showdowns, from street violence allegations to charges of court theft.
05:05The battle for Bengal has begun and it is only getting fiercer.
05:10Bureau Report, India Today.
05:12Gargi Nandi Roy is a political analyst. Sanju Verma, national spokesperson of the BJP, joins me.
05:21We have Niladri Bhattacharji, political analyst. Shikha Mukherjee, political commentator.
05:27Sanju Verma, here is the TMC which has taken the battle against SIR straight to the door of the Chief Election Commission.
05:36I won't say this is the first time, perhaps won't be the last, but it's becoming increasingly clear that battle for Bengal, which will be will be a tough one also for the BJP.
05:48You know, Maria, the battle of Bengal is not just an electoral battle for us, as senior BJP leaders have reinforced. This is a civilizational battle. Point number one.
06:01Point number two, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said repeatedly,
06:05The third point that I want to make is that, you know, we've said this on umpteen occasions that, you know, reigning in illegal migrants and infiltrators is a big agenda for us.
06:25We call them ghuspethyas for good reason. And as Amit Shah said 24 hours back, why is it that there is no ghuspethya problem in Assam, which shares a 263-kilometer border with Bangladesh?
06:38Why is there no ghuspethya problem in Neghalaya, which shares a 443-kilometer border with Bangladesh? Why is there not a ghuspethya problem in Tripura, which shares a 856-kilometer border with Bangladesh?
06:52Why is there not a ghuspethya problem, which shares a 318-kilometer border with Bangladesh? Why is the ghuspethya problem, by and large, limited to West Bengal, which, of course, shares a 2,217-kilometer border with Bangladesh?
07:10It is because while the Union Government is doing what it should,
07:14Bangal ki police kya kar rahi hai?
07:16As Amit Shah ji said, Bangal ke district magistrate kya kar rahe hai? Bangal ke patwari kya kar rahe hai? Bangal ke ADN kya kar rahe hai? Bangal ke law and order machinery kya kar rahe hai?
07:28Don't you remember, Mariya, that in 2016, when the Modi Government said that the jurisdiction of the border security force will be enhanced by 50 kilometers,
07:38Mamata Banerjee was up in arms. She said, why is BSS being empowered by the Modi Government?
07:44Do they have an agenda?
07:46Bhattachar ji, will you respond?
07:49Mariya, this is the same old narrative by the BJP. Amit Shah coming to Calcutta just before the elections is like a politically migratory bird.
07:58He only comes when the elections are there, he and the Prime Minister.
08:01As far as the ghuspethya issue is concerned, let him clarify, after the SIR issue in Bihar,
08:07how many ghuspethyas have been identified? In Bengal also, the SIR is nearly the last stages.
08:13How many ghuspethyas have been identified? This is a narrative which is being created by the BJP
08:18to just demean Bengalis as a whole. BJP is basically an anti-Bengali party.
08:27It is very clear because they say that whoever speaks Bengali language is a Bangladeshi, is an infiltrator.
08:35That narrative is not going to work now. As far as, because BJP is plagued by its own issues,
08:42they have no local leaders. The leader who has made the maximum, maximum, against Dilip Ghosi's sideline, is sidelined.
08:49You have, you're talking about challenges for the BJP.
08:52But let's not forget that their seats may have gone down in 2024, from 2018 in 2019, but their vote share remain intact.
09:03And here is the party which is sending a message on the last day of 2025 that they are going to enter 2026
09:12with Home Minister himself on the ground, you know, making it clear or perhaps talking about it, amplifying the message
09:21that how significant this battle is, Shikha Mukherjee, for the BJP in Bengal.
09:28I think he's made it very clear. You're absolutely right.
09:31He's made it very, very clear that this battle is of great significance to the BJP.
09:39And for that purpose, in fact, the RSS has been roped in because Bia Santosh made this comment about the civilizational impact
09:49of the demographic change which he thinks is happening across the, is coming in from the Bangladesh end of the international border
09:57and changing not only the demographics of West Bengal's border district, but also of the whole country.
10:05And that's really a fantastic claim to make.
10:08But having said that, Mr. Bashar has been talking, has been talking hard and talking long, from what I hear,
10:18from my friends in the BJP, to the party's leadership as well as its workers.
10:24He has been giving instructions on how things are to be done, how things are to be managed,
10:31what are the messages that need to go out, how the organization needs to make up for whatever weaknesses it has.
10:37In other words, this is a man who has been described as the mastermind, as the strategist,
10:45as this incredible genius who has made it possible for the BJP to win election after election.
10:56And he is working overtime in West Bengal, trying to gear the West Bengal BJP up to deliver what he wants.
11:06Now, that suggests to me that this is a man who is worried about how the party's party is functioning in West Bengal.
11:14And he has reasons to worry, this is what I'm hearing.
11:17Because the BJP has two sets of leaders, none of whom get on with each other.
11:25Okay, the BJP has within one group of leaders, people who don't get on with each other.
11:33Okay, these challenges of factionalism, of factionalism, which is why he's there for three days.
11:40Yeah, yeah. So this factionalism within the state unit, Sanju Verma, do you think that's going to be a huge challenge?
11:47And that is the reason why these visits of H.M. Shah becomes more important, because he understands Bengal, like few other leaders in the party do.
11:57He doesn't understand Bengal, Maria.
11:58He doesn't understand Bengal.
12:00Okay, so that's your view. I think he does.
12:03For a party to reach that 40%, we cannot say that he doesn't understand Bengal.
12:07Yes, please, go ahead.
12:08No.
12:09Yes, Sanju Verma.
12:10Yes.
12:10You know, taking off from what Shikha Mukherjee said, let me just say one thing, Maria.
12:14In 2016, Assembly Elections, West Bengal, BJP had a vote share of a little over 10% in just three seats.
12:23Come 2021, we went up to 77 seats, which is a 2,466% increase.
12:31And if somebody does not want to give credit to the BJP or Amit Shah, good luck to them.
12:36You are behaving like the proverbial ostrich with your head buried under the sand.
12:39Yes, it is true that in Lok Sabha 2024, we came down from 18 seats in Lok Sabha 2019 to 12 seats.
12:47But our vote share in Lok Sabha 2024 was still over 39%.
12:52That is my second point.
12:54And my third point is this.
12:56Today, BJP and its alliance partners govern more than 69% of India in terms of population
13:04and more than 73% of India in terms of geography.
13:09And how has this become possible?
13:11It is due to the Modi juggernaut and people like Amit Shah.
13:15When he is called Chanakya, it is for a reason.
13:17It is not just BJP being bombastic.
13:20But I will end by just saying one thing.
13:22If the Trinamul Congress has a problem with special intensive revision,
13:28then let them file a petition in the High Court.
13:33I fail to understand.
13:34SIR is a legitimate exercise as per Section 20 of the Representation of People's Act 1950-51.
13:42It is a legitimate exercise as per Article 326 and 327 of the Constitution.
13:49And Maria, let me tell Mamta Banerjeev through your show that it is the election commission
13:54under Article 324 of the Constitution which has the legitimate right to conduct the SIR.
14:01That among the parties which petitioned the Supreme Court,
14:06during the SIR which first began in my home state of Bihar,
14:10it was also TMC MP Mahua as well, Mahua Moitra.
14:16So, she had also petitioned.
14:18So, the sense was that they saw Bihar as more of a trailer.
14:21The real battle was in Bengal.
14:24They knew it.
14:25So, Mamta Banerjeev has been far more prepared than most parties when it comes to an SIR.
14:29It is essentially a smoke screen, I would say, which is being created by TMC.
14:35They have done all the groundwork which is needed to ensure that their supporters
14:39and voters are on that list.
14:42Yes, Gargi Nandi, Roy, the point that has been made by both Niladri and also Shikha Mukherjee
14:47that BJP doesn't understand Bengal, which I disagree with, but please go ahead.
14:54Yeah, obviously, I also don't agree, Maria, with this.
14:57As the daughter of Bengal, I surely do not agree.
15:00If BJP would not have understood Bengal, BJP has got 38% vote even in the last election.
15:07So, how can a party get 38%?
15:09People have voted.
15:10Please, you are demeaning the people of Bengal when you are making such a statement.
15:14It's not true.
15:15Yes, BJP also has to work on certain things.
15:18Infiltration is a huge issue.
15:21SIR was required, Maria.
15:22If you know, in Kolkata at Bidhan Nagar, the director of Shaha Institute of Nuclear Physics,
15:30he went to Bidhan Nagar police station several times because they felt there was a security threat to Shaha Institute from the Rohingya colonies at Bidhan Nagar.
15:41Now, this director of Shaha Institute asked Sanju Verma, I don't think he takes instructions for the party or Amit Shah.
15:48So, this kind of a theory, you know, there is no infiltration.
15:50There is.
15:51There is a security issue.
15:53But there are also other issues.
15:54So, the question is, the question is, Gargi Nandi Roy, whether people of Bengal will be voting on the issue of infiltrators.
16:03This is an issue which was rigged up by your party, by the BJP and the union government in the past elections as well.
16:10It has not yielded result enough for the BJP to cross that significant number, reach that, you know, number of 44-45% vote share to form the government.
16:22That is where the challenge is.
16:23Yes, I am coming to that.
16:26And since Sanju Ji is there, I want to send a message to her and to Amit Shah Ji also.
16:30Maria, BJP can increase 6-7% and that is possible.
16:34People who are voting for NOTA or CPM, because there is a perception.
16:37Let me tell you that there is an understanding between Modi and Didi.
16:41There is a setting.
16:42And why there is a perception like that?
16:44Because of the corruption issue.
16:46And everybody knows that the kingpin of corruption in Bengal is nobody but the Bhipo.
16:52And in the last CBI charge sheet, if you see, if you have read the last CBI charge sheet, I have seen that.
16:59Bhipo's name is taken.
17:01So people are asking questions.
17:03If he is...
17:04Niladri Bhattachar Ji, come in and let's start taking the second round of commentaries from everyone.
17:10Niladri, what is this understanding between the BJP and Mamata Banerjee?
17:17I have heard about some Rosgullas being sent regularly.
17:20But besides Rosgullas, what exactly is the understanding?
17:23You know, I want this year to end on a very happy note and this discussion should also be with smiles.
17:30All of you should smile more and less noise, please.
17:33Yes, please.
17:33Go ahead.
17:34See, that's a political courtesy which Mamata Banerjee has always maintained.
17:38Sending Rosgullas to the Home Minister, the famous Malda arm to the Prime Minister.
17:43But having said so, I just want to make one comment that even the famed German juggernaut also came to a halt.
17:50The BJP having, going with the juggernaut in the 69% of this country, it has come to a halt in Bengal.
17:57Because, see, the issues with the BJP...
17:59You have to say 38% voting they have got in Bengal also.
18:01I'm coming, ma'am.
18:02Just give me one minute.
18:03I'll interrupt you.
18:04See, please understand that BJP faces a very uphill task.
18:10Because, see, the SIR has backfired on them.
18:12The SIR has backfired on them.
18:14I'll tell you how.
18:1558 lakh voters have been kept out of the draft list.
18:19Out of which, 24 are dead or shifted voters.
18:22The balance 24, which the BJP was banking, would be the Muslim community, from the Muslim community, is from the Hindu community.
18:29Now, that is where the challenge is for the BJP.
18:31So, then my question is, Niladri, so if the SIR exercise has backfired on the BJP,
18:38then why is the TMC delegation going to the CEC and questioning the exercise?
18:43We are going to the CEC.
18:44One moment, one moment, Gargi.
18:47The list which has been published.
18:49Yes, please, patient.
18:50I'm coming.
18:50The list which has come out, the format by which the list has come out of the AEROs are having some discrepancies.
18:58We have gone today, Amishek Maharaj has gone and challenged on those issues.
19:01If you see his press conference, it was very clear that the list, the app, the list which is opening on the app is having discrepancies, which was pointed out.
19:09Okay, so you're pointing out the discrepancies, but you feel that this entire exercise has backfired on the BJP.
19:16So, in fact, you should be celebrating this exercise rather than criticizing it.
19:21Okay.
19:21Sanju Verma.
19:23Sanju Verma.
19:26You know, Maria, let's not lose sight of the woods for the trees.
19:29While the SIR is a very, very legitimately valid exercise and ghuspetia is a big mudda for the BJP in West Bengal, what did Amit Shah say 24 hours back?
19:41He categorically said, Tushri Karan ki Rajneeti is also another very important mudda for us.
19:46Don't forget, this is the same Mamata Banerji under whose ages Hindus have to actually petition in the Kolkata High Court to celebrate Hanuman Jainti.
19:56She has changed the name of Ram Navami to Ranganavami, Ram Dhenu to Rangan Dhenu.
20:02There are villages in Bardwan and Birbhum, places like Nalahati, where Hindu families have to take court permission to celebrate Durga Puja and Kalit Puja.
20:11So, Tushri Karan ki Rajneeti ka ant bhi, April 2026 mein ho ga.
20:16And I want to tell Shikha Mukherjee one of the things, if he was taking jibes at Amit Shah's, you know, so-called Chanakya credentials,
20:24this is also the same Mamata Banerji who said in 2018 and then in 2023, BJP will be uprooted from Tripura.
20:33The TMC will win Tripura.
20:35TMC got zero seats in Tripura in 2018.
20:38TMC got zero seats in Tripura in 2023.
20:42And let me say one more thing.
20:43You know, Maria, very quickly, very quickly, just 10 seconds.
20:49I think the biggest point, you know, women voters are the swing sector, Maria.
20:54They were the swing sector in Bihar and they will be the swing sector in Bengal.
20:58After the RGKR rape, Mamata Banerji said, hua to hua.
21:02After the South Kolkata Law College rape, she said, hua to hua.
21:05After the Durgaapur rape, she said, hua to hua.
21:09So, Sanjeev, Mamata Banerji has also really nurtured this constituency.
21:14For you to say that security will be an issue, there could be a counter, you know, argument
21:18that women of Bengal have voted for a women chief minister and perhaps the only women, you know,
21:25now we have Rekha Gupta also, two women chief ministers that India has.
21:30So, you know, that could be another argument given that women of Bengal could look at
21:35Mamata Banerji rather than looking at the BJP.
21:38Shikha Mukherjee, while we may dismiss, as you have done, that the BJP doesn't understand
21:45Bengal, but here is the party which is really hungry for that state.
21:50They understand that how significant it is in the larger scheme of things in terms of
21:56how important, what kind of importance they place on this state.
22:00So, whatever the gaps may be from the last assembly election, from the Lok Sabha polls,
22:06they may be trying to plug those gaps.
22:08Well, you know, if they were trying to plug those gaps, then they shouldn't have been quite
22:15so ignorant as they have proven themselves to be.
22:18A, on the language issue, because, you know, language is something which is so critical to
22:23the identity of Bengalis and their own pride in who they are.
22:29Language, the culture, the literature, the kind of practices that we have.
22:34And these are very, very important.
22:38You know, Shoghattar Rai had to intervene and tell the Prime Minister, please don't say
22:42Bhunkimda, because that is a bad practice.
22:46It's terrible.
22:47No, no, no.
22:47It's disrespectful.
22:49Bangladeshi as a language.
22:51Bengali does not exist as a language.
22:53This kind of thing.
22:54I mean, you know, I've had I've had people from all kinds of of backgrounds, intellectual,
23:02educational, et cetera, who've been horrified, furious at this statement.
23:08Okay.
23:09So, you know, this is a decision.
23:10So, the linguistic.
23:12Linguistic identity.
23:14Just one very small point, which is that, you know, in some places, the identity politics
23:25takes on a significant cultural.
23:29Yes, so the cultural understanding of Bengal is a point that has been made here.
23:34I wish all of you a very happy new year.
23:37We'll continue these debates.
23:39Many of them will happen in 2026 because the state goes to polls and there are four other
23:45states.
23:46So, thank you so much.
23:47Wishing you a very happy new year.
23:49Sanjeev Arba, Shikha Mukherjee, Niladuri, Bhattacharji and Gargi, Nandi Roy.
23:53That's all from me.
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