Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Adhikari Says BJP Can Win Every Bengal Seat in 2029
Suvendu Adhikari, West Bengal’s chief minister, said the BJP wants to win every parliamentary seat in the state in 2029.
He made the statement at a celebration for Narendra Modi in Vadnagar, Gujarat.
West Bengal currently has 42 such seats.
A BJP leader said the number could grow if a delimitation bill passes.
The BJP won 12 Bengal seats in the 2024 election.
Opposition leaders said the BJP’s 2029 prediction was unrealistic and raised allegations about voting in two by-elections.
The BJP dismissed those allegations.
The article says the opposition and BJP also disagree about whether the BJP’s prospects will improve by 2029.
Suvendu Adhikari said the BJP would seek to win all of Bengal’s Lok Sabha seats in 2029 under Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He made the pledge at an event in Vadnagar, Gujarat, celebrating Modi’s 25 years in public life.
West Bengal currently has 42 Lok Sabha seats; a BJP leader said delimitation could increase the state’s seat count by at least 20.
The BJP won 12 Bengal seats in 2024, six fewer than in 2019; the article also reports it won 207 Assembly seats in 2026.
Opposition leaders disputed Adhikari’s prediction and alleged election irregularities in Nandigram and Rejinagar; the BJP rejected those charges.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP, and opposition leaders including Kunal Ghosh and Sujan Chakraborty.
- What
- Adhikari pledged that the BJP would work to win all of Bengal’s Lok Sabha seats in 2029; opposition leaders challenged his prediction.
- When
- Adhikari made the statement on Wednesday; the pledge concerned the 2029 Lok Sabha election.
- Where
- At an event in Vadnagar, Gujarat; the election prediction concerns West Bengal.
- Why
- Adhikari said the BJP would pursue the goal under Narendra Modi’s leadership. The event celebrated Modi’s 25 years in public life.
Opposition view
BJP view
BJP’s 2029 prospects
Opposition view
Kunal Ghosh and Sujan Chakraborty said the BJP would not win all Bengal seats and argued it would lose power nationally.
BJP view
Adhikari said the BJP would work under Modi’s leadership to win all Bengal Lok Sabha seats; BJP leaders said the party’s position in state government would change the momentum.
Conduct of by-elections
Opposition view
Opposition parties accused the ruling side of preventing voters from reaching polling booths and using police and administrative machinery to manipulate voting. Some voters reportedly said they were inked but could not vote.
BJP view
The BJP dismissed the allegations. BJP figures cited in the article expressed confidence about winning the Nandigram and Rejinagar by-elections.
- Current Bengal Lok Sabha seats
- 42
- BJP seats in Bengal in 2024
- 12, six fewer than in 2019
- BJP Assembly seats in 2026
- 207, according to the article
- Potential seat increase
- A senior BJP leader said delimitation could add at least 20 seats in Bengal.
- Event location
- Vadnagar, Gujarat
- Event
- The grand finale of the Varanasi to Vadnagar Seva Yatra, held as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan.
- By-election allegations
- Opposition parties alleged voters were blocked or votes manipulated in Nandigram and Rejinagar; the BJP dismissed the charges.