Battleground Bengal: The Political Future Of A Fiercely Contested State

Long considered a Left stronghold, West Bengal has been politically dominated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for over a decade, reducing opposition parties to near electoral irrelevance. In recent years, however, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as a formidable challenger, dramatically increasing its presence from just three assembly seats in 2016 to seventy-seven in the 2021 elections. Does this signal the TMC’s decline and a potential wipeout reminiscent of the Left’s defeat in 2011, or will Mamata Banerjee leverage her grassroots network and enduring public appeal to hold power? In Battleground Bengal, author and scholar Sayantan Ghosh explores these questions, examining the political climate leading up to the 2026 assembly election. Drawing on archival documents, electoral data, interviews with political leaders and experts, and years of field reporting, Ghosh critiques the contemporary scene—from Mamata’s welfare-oriented populism to the BJP’s organizational challenges—while reflecting on the state’s recent history for insights into its future. Ultimately, Battleground Bengal reveals how identity, patronage, and fear continue to shape the politics of West Bengal, regardless of who is in power.