BJP's Border Narrative
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has prominently featured the issue of illegal immigration and demographic changes in border regions as a key election
strategy. A significant part of their campaign rhetoric has involved criticizing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for allegedly hindering the installation of border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier by not providing the necessary land. This criticism has become more pronounced as election campaigns progress, with the BJP pledging to allocate land for fencing within a mere 45 days should they form the government. This approach echoes their previous strategies in elections held in neighboring states like Jharkhand and Bihar, where the issue of infiltration across the Bangladesh border was also a central theme. The party aims to leverage concerns about national security and resource allocation to garner support, framing the TMC's stance as a detriment to effective border management and national interest.
TMC's Border Constituency Edge
Despite the BJP's emphasis on border security, data from the 2021 elections indicates a strong hold for the TMC in constituencies bordering Bangladesh. Out of the 44 Assembly seats that share a boundary with Bangladesh, the TMC secured victory in 27, whereas the BJP won 17. This shows that these sensitive areas largely remain under TMC's sway, with the party winning 12.55% of its total seats from these regions, compared to the BJP's 22% of its total seats. Furthermore, the TMC's average victory margin in these border constituencies was significantly higher than the BJP's, suggesting a more robust voter mandate. These constituencies are spread across districts known for their substantial Muslim populations, where the TMC also holds a considerable number of Muslim MLAs. Notably, 13 of these border constituencies are scheduled for upcoming voting, and in 2021, the TMC had won eight of them, further underscoring their advantage.
Fencing Facts and Figures
The total India-Bangladesh border spans 4,096 kilometers, with West Bengal accounting for a substantial portion of 2,216 kilometers. As of August 2025, approximately 1,653 kilometers of this border had been fenced, leaving around 563 kilometers unfenced. The majority of this unfenced stretch lies within West Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that the Border Security Force requires 600 acres for fencing, land that he claims the state government has failed to provide. He has also asserted that West Bengal is the only state not completing its share of border fencing work due to the TMC government's perceived unwillingness to cooperate, emphasizing that the remaining unfenced border is exclusively in Bengal and that the TMC's protection of 'infiltrators' will ensure the BJP's victory.
Election Manifestos and Promises
Both major parties have addressed border security and infiltration in their election manifestos. The BJP, in its 'Bhoroshar Shopoth' manifesto, has promised stringent measures to combat 'illegal infiltration' and what it terms a 'silent demographic invasion,' vowing to expedite land allocation for border fencing within 45 days of forming the government. Their 2021 manifesto, 'Sonar Bangla—Sankalpa Patra 2021,' also pledged cooperation with the Centre for infiltration control through timely fencing, border outposts, and CCTV surveillance. The focus on tangible actions like fencing and the promise of swift land allocation are central to their electoral pitch, aiming to reassure voters about their commitment to securing the nation's borders.
