Kolkata, April 10 By combining firm promises on infiltration, a Uniform Civil Code, and a vision of "Ram Rajya" with a comprehensive welfare package for women, unemployed youth, and farmers, the BJP unveiled its West Bengal election manifesto on Friday. This move appears to be the BJP's most ambitious attempt yet to win over the social coalition that has kept the TMC in power since 2011.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah transformed the release of the manifesto into a platform packed with welfare promises, Bengali symbolism, and a sharp critique of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, framing the election as a direct contest over identity and welfare.
He promised that if the BJP were elected, it would implement the Uniform Civil Code in Bengal within six months, appoint a "son of Bengal" as chief minister, and establish what he termed "Ram Rajya" in the state.
Defending the UCC promise amid TMC attacks that it was majoritarian, Shah said the proposal did not originate with the BJP.
"It was the Constituent Assembly that recommended it. Does having the same law for every citizen constitute appeasement? Or does it constitute appeasement when one citizen is allowed four marriages and another only one?" he asked.
The manifesto also promised strict laws against "love jihad" and "land jihad," and a law guaranteeing every citizen the freedom to practice religion and faith.
Shah also declared that a BJP government would adopt a "detect, delete, and deport" policy against infiltrators.
"We will adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards infiltration," he said, promising to seal Bengal's borders, stop cattle smuggling, and clear government land of "encroachers and infiltrators."
The BJP said that within 45 days of coming to power, it would provide all the land needed for border fencing and introduce modern, scientific patrolling in rivers and canals with the Centre's help.
The manifesto promised three white papers on the alleged 15 years of TMC corruption, deterioration of law and order, and political violence in the state.
It also promised a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate political violence and take every case "to its logical conclusion," regardless of which party was involved.
The BJP also sought to win over TMC's strongest base – women voters.
The party promised Rs 3,000 per month for every woman in Bengal, free travel on all state-run buses, 33 per cent reservation for women in all government jobs, including the police, and one women's police station in every block.
Pregnant women would receive Rs 21,000 and six nutrition kits, while two women battalions of the State Reserve Police Force named after Matangini Hazra and Rani Rashmoni would be created.
A special police unit called the "Durga Suraksha Squad" and a self-defence training force for women were also promised.
The BJP's Rs 3,000 promise is widely seen as a direct counter to the TMC's flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The TMC, in its own manifesto, has promised to raise Lakshmir Bhandar to Rs 1,500 for women from the general category and Rs 1,700 for SC and ST women.
The BJP also sought to address the discontent among unemployed youth, promising them Rs 3,000 per month and an additional Rs 15,000 to prepare for competitive examinations.
Here too, the promise aims to outbid the TMC, which has offered Rs 1,500 a month to unemployed youth.
Those who lost jobs due to the school recruitment scam and other corruption-related cases would be given age relaxation of up to five years, while the BJP also promised "transparent, merit-based" recruitment and permanent jobs for deserving candidates.
Shah also attempted to exploit the long-running resentment among state government employees over Dearness Allowance, promising DA parity with the Centre and implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission within 45 days.
For farmers, the BJP promised to raise annual assistance under PM-Kisan to Rs 9,000 by adding Rs 3,000 from the state government.
It also promised one crore jobs and self-employment opportunities, a startup network, and 75 lakh "Lakhpati Didis".
The BJP also wrapped its Hindutva plank in the language of Bengali pride and culture, seeking to blunt the TMC's long-running charge that the saffron party is "anti-Bengali" and culturally alien to the state.
From promising a Vande Mataram Museum and a Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spiritual circuit to setting up a cultural centre in the name of Rabindranath Tagore, the manifesto sought to marry Hindutva with Bengal's culture.
Shah assured Bengalis that a BJP government would not interfere with their food habits.
"No one will stop Bengalis from eating fish and eggs," he said.
The BJP's pitch also carried a distinct north Bengal layer.
Seeking to consolidate its hold over the region, which accounts for 54 assembly seats, the manifesto promised constitutional recognition for Rajbanshi and Kurmali languages, an AIIMS, IIT, IIM, sports university, and a fashion designing institute in north Bengal.
A cancer hospital, a special development plan for Haldia port, deep-sea ports at Tajpur and Kulpi, four townships, and a 10-year plan to turn Kolkata into a globally recognised "living city" also featured in the document.
Darjeeling would be developed as a heritage tourism destination, while the hills would be developed "keeping Bengal united."
The BJP also spoke about its CM face.
"We are not a dynastic party where, after Didi, her nephew automatically becomes the leader," Shah said in an oblique reference to Abhishek Banerjee.
"Bengal's CM will be someone born in Bengal, who speaks Bengali and is capable. If the state is run from Delhi, that is still better than being run from Bangladesh."