Following Amit Shah’s Strategy, Bihari Leader Nitin Nabin Launches Mission Bengal from Durgapur-Asansol, Skipping Kolkata

Following the plan laid out by BJP strategist Amit Shah, the party’s national president, Nitin Nabin, has launched the “Mission Bengal” campaign from Durgapur and Asansol. Notably, Nabin has chosen to stay away from Kolkata during his first visit. After this initial phase, Amit Shah himself will take charge of organizational activities in West Bengal. Nitin Nabin has been deployed primarily to engage Bihari voters.

Mission Bengal Begins from Durgapur-Asansol

After assuming the role of BJP national president, Nitin Nabin has started working on the party’s Mission Bengal strategy under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and political mentor Amit Shah. Nabin’s two-day West Bengal visit begins today, with Durgapur and Asansol chosen over Kolkata as these areas have a significant non-Bengali population. Many residents here are descendants of migrants from Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. BJP hopes that Nitin Nabin’s visit will consolidate Hindi-speaking voters in the region. The party expects a direct advantage in nine assembly constituencies of West Burdwan. Following Nabin’s visit, Amit Shah will also tour the state.

Focus on Bihari Voters in West Burdwan

BJP’s West Bengal election strategy is being meticulously planned at the constituency level. Hindi-speaking leaders have been assigned to rally and organize grassroots workers. Sources indicate that besides Dalits, backward classes, and Matua communities, the party is targeting Hindi-speaking voters. West Burdwan’s nine assembly constituencies are key areas where BJP had shown strength in 2014 but suffered losses in 2021. Given the large Bihari population in these regions, Durgapur and Asansol were chosen for Nitin Nabin’s first outreach program. Originally from Bihar, Nabin will hold meetings and events in these cities on January 27 and 28.

Amit Shah to Follow Up with State Visits

According to party plans, Nitin Nabin’s campaign in Bengal will continue up to the assembly elections, after which Amit Shah will personally engage in the electoral battle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already launched election campaigns from Malda and Singur. BJP officials said that Nitin Nabin will visit the Kalam Mela in Durgapur on Tuesday and attend an organizational meeting. On Wednesday, he will visit the Bhiringi Kali Temple and hold two meetings with party workers in Durgapur and Asansol.

Preparing to Reclaim Seats from TMC

West Burdwan has historically been a BJP stronghold. The party won Asansol in 2014, and in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, S.S. Ahluwalia secured Bardhaman-Durgapur while Babul Supriyo won Asansol. However, TMC wrested Asansol back in the 2021 bypolls. In 2019, TMC fielded two Bihari leaders—Kirti Azad in Bardhaman-Durgapur and Shatrughan Sinha in Asansol—to reclaim these seats. In the 2021 assembly elections, TMC won six out of nine assembly constituencies in West Burdwan.

Amit Shah to Hold Rallies Across Bengal

BJP strategists believe that the party can win at least six assembly seats in Durgapur and Asansol in the 2026 elections. This is why Nitin Nabin’s first visit has been focused on these regions. While Amit Shah’s detailed itinerary is yet to be finalized, central minister Sukanta Majumdar confirmed that Shah may visit Bengal on January 30 and 31, with a focus on BJP’s stronghold in North 24-Parganas. The party is planning a major rally for him in Barasat.