The 5 Ms Behind PM Modi-Led BJP's Rise In Mamata Banerjee's Bengal

The BJP's campaign combined central and state leadership, booth-level management, digital campaigning, and cadre expansion, emphasizing ground involvement in a state historically driven by party cadres.

The Matua community, a Scheduled Caste group making up about 17% of West Bengal's population, has been a major vote bank for the BJP-led opposition. Their ongoing support is described as potentially decisive in the race.

Migrant voters returning home amid fears of name deletions and to ensure residency placed them at the center of the 2026 contest, contributing to a more volatile electoral environment.

Muslim voters, historically crucial in West Bengal, saw potential shifts in Malda, Murshidabad, and Uttar Dinajpur. NDTV ground reports cited concerns about development, voter list issues, and governance in these areas, affecting consolidation of minority votes that previously helped TMC win in 2021.

Mahila voters have long been a backbone of the TMC's support, with women's welfare schemes like Lakshmi Bhandar and Kanyashree highlighted in the campaign. In 2026, the BJP also centered its pitch around women-focused incentives and the issue of safety for women, including attention to the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case and a ticket to the victim's mother from Panihati.

With counting underway, trends show the BJP maintaining a comfortable lead with over 160 seats, well past the halfway mark of 148, while the Trinamool Congress struggles to cross 100 seats in this election. The results come after a record deletion of voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

In 2011, Mamata Banerjee led the Trinamool Congress to end 34 years of Left Front rule in West Bengal. The campaign slogan 'Ma, Mati, Manush' became a cornerstone of TMC's appeal and helped establish three consecutive victories for the party in the state.