Riding high on the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) triumph in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seemingly shifted his focus to West Bengal, igniting a fresh political battle with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in anticipation of the 2026 assembly elections.

Addressing party workers in Delhi, Modi asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in Bihar has paved the way for a similar outcome in West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee's TMC currently holds power. Modi declared that just as the Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal, the BJP's victory will lead to the end of "Jungle Raj" in West Bengal, evoking memories of Lalu Prasad's regime in Bihar to draw parallels. He attributed the Bihar victory to a "Mahila-Youth" (MY) formula, emphasizing women's empowerment and youth aspirations, while also lauding the Election Commission for ensuring smooth elections.

The Prime Minister's remarks have been interpreted as a direct challenge to Mamata Banerjee and a signal of the BJP's intent to intensify its campaign in West Bengal. Modi accused the TMC government of risking West Bengal's identity and national security by promoting infiltration for vote bank politics. He also raised concerns about crime against women and alleged corruption in the state's education system, asserting that change will only come to Bengal when TMC rule ends. In previous rallies, Modi has criticized the TMC for job migration, industry decline and rising crime, urging voters to "Remove TMC, Save Bengal". He has also emphasized the importance of Bengali language and identity to the BJP, promising to address the targeting of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states.

The TMC has retaliated sharply, dismissing the notion that the Bihar results will have any bearing on West Bengal's political landscape. TMC leaders have accused the BJP of distorting facts and making false claims about West Bengal. They also said that the BJP harasses Bengali-speaking migrant laborers in BJP-ruled states while falsely claiming to champion Bengali pride. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated that Mamata Banerjee will become Chief Minister for the fourth time with over 250 seats. The TMC also questioned what it described as a change in PM Modi's rhetoric.

Political analysts suggest that while the Bihar victory may boost the BJP's morale, extrapolating the outcome to West Bengal may be simplistic. They point to factors such as identity politics, women voters and social welfare programs as critical determinants in the upcoming Bengal elections. The TMC has emphasized that its social and economic schemes are the "original," while the BJP's women-centric schemes are mere copies.

The battle for Bengal is expected to intensify in the coming months, with both the BJP and TMC employing aggressive campaign strategies. The BJP aims to capitalize on perceived discontent with the TMC government, while the TMC seeks to consolidate its support base by highlighting its achievements and portraying the BJP as anti-Bengali. The election is seen as a crucial test for both parties, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for the future of Indian politics.