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BJP sharpens Bengal strategy after Bihar win, shifts focus to Trinamool’s grassroots network

Fresh off its Bihar victory, the BJP has begun shaping its Bengal campaign by prioritising TMC’s grassroots workers over turncoats, while preparing to target dynastic politics and regional equations.

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Mamata Banerjee

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has moved swiftly from its sweeping victory in Bihar to preparing for its next major battle — the West Bengal Assembly election scheduled for March-April next year. According to information shared with media, the party is recalibrating its approach with an emphasis on undermining the Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) ground-level strength rather than relying on high-profile defections.

BJP targets TMC’s grassroots to counter Mamata Banerjee

With plans to challenge Mamata Banerjee once again, the BJP intends to concentrate on Trinamool cadres who are not firmly aligned with Abhishek Banerjee. The party believes this segment could be susceptible to shifting loyalties and may help weaken the ruling party’s booth-level reach.

Even as the BJP prepares to question ‘dynastic politics’ in Bengal by highlighting Abhishek Banerjee’s prominence, the broader strategy remains rooted in boosting its cadre-based presence rather than replicating the pre-2021 influx of TMC defectors.

No major push for turncoats this time

Before the 2021 Assembly polls, the BJP had brought in several senior Trinamool leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, who went on to defeat Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram. But party leaders now believe more defections will not significantly impact vote share. Instead, inducting grassroots workers is seen as a safer, more effective alternative that won’t create internal friction among BJP’s existing leadership ranks.

Caste arithmetic replaced with regional, religious balance

The BJP’s sweeping performance in Bihar was built on a carefully planned caste matrix. However, Bengal’s political landscape differs considerably, with caste playing a limited role. The party is expected to focus on regional dynamics and religious polarisation instead.

While Muslim voters constitute roughly 30% of the state’s population, their electoral influence is concentrated in a limited number of seats. The BJP hopes that Hindu consolidation in other regions could give it a competitive advantage.

‘Outsider’ narrative likely to intensify

The BJP is expected to continue pressing its charge that illegal migration from Bangladesh has altered electoral patterns in the state. Meanwhile, the Trinamool has long branded the BJP as an ‘outsider’ force. This narrative battle is expected to shape much of the campaign.

BJP eyes 160-170 seats, plans careful candidate selection

Over the last two Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has crossed the 100-seat mark in total seats won across Bengal. The party now aims to convert this base into a larger Assembly footprint, targeting 160–170 seats. For this, candidate selection will be critical — an area where the leadership wants to avoid the issues that arose after the wave of defections in 2021.

Strong presence in north and south Bengal

The BJP continues to hold strong ground in north and south Bengal, regions where it has consistently gained vote share. Its best performance so far came in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when it secured 18 seats with over 40% vote share. However, the party recently witnessed a decline after losing six of its 12 seats in the latest national election.

To surpass the Trinamool’s peak vote share of around 48%, the BJP will need to secure an additional six per cent of votes — a challenge that will heavily test its organisational strength in the months leading to the election.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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World praised India’s AI potential at AI Impact Summit, says PM Modi

PM Modi said the world praised India’s AI potential at the AI Impact Summit 2026, where 89 countries endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on artificial intelligence.

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pm modi speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the world wholeheartedly praised India’s potential during the recently concluded AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, highlighting the growing global confidence in the country’s young technology talent.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the summit demonstrated how the mindset of India’s youth in the field of technology would serve humanity at large. He described the event as historic and underlined the positive global response to India’s AI capabilities.

The AI Impact Summit 2026, organised in New Delhi last week, concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact. The declaration has been endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, signalling broad global agreement on promoting artificial intelligence for economic growth and social welfare.

Broad global participation

The summit saw the participation of several prominent world leaders and top technology executives. Among those present were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin.

Other leaders attending the summit included Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, Estonia President Alar Karis, and Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Chief executives and senior leaders from major global technology firms were also part of the gathering.

Focus on inclusive AI growth

Held under the theme ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’ (welfare for all, happiness of all), the summit aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial intelligence while ensuring that AI development remains inclusive and sustainable.

The event brought together more than 500 international AI leaders. This included around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers, and 400 CTOs, vice presidents and philanthropists. Additionally, over 100 government representatives and nearly 60 ministers and vice ministers participated in discussions.

The New Delhi Declaration seeks to strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI technologies contribute to economic progress, social good and environmental protection.

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