Amit Shah holds meet with West Bengal MPs, kick-starts poll preparations

The BJP on Monday (August 4, 2025) got down to poll preparations for the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah meeting the party MPs from that State, with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list and seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Tribes coming in for special mention.

The meeting comes in the background of a drive by various BJP-ruled States to identify, what they term, illegal Bangladeshi migrants, and the controversial circular issued by the Delhi police, about people speaking “Bangladeshi” language.

According to an MP present at the meeting, Mr. Shah emphasised that as and when the SIR takes place in West Bengal, the party needs to be prepared for it. The Election Commission (EC) had last week directed West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal to immediately begin preparations for a SIR of electoral rolls in the State, which heads to polls next year.

“Apart from this, Amit bhai was clear that the issues of women safety following the RG Kar incident need to be kept front and centre as well as assessment of the BJP’s performance in SC/ST reserved seats,” said a source.

Present at the meeting were West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and BJP general secretary in-charge of the State, Sunil Bansal. Mr. Bhattacharya said general issues with regard to poll preparations were discussed, but declined to elaborate.

Mr. Shah also held a meeting via video conference with district-level leaders of West Bengal BJP as well as party MLAs, to speak about poll preparations there.

West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Tamil Nadu go to polls early next year.