May 05, 2026

A historic dawn: The 2026 mandate for governance, culture, and pro-incumbency

By Syed Zafar Islam

We salute the people of Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to every BJP and NDA worker who toiled tirelessly to make this victory possible

May 4th, 2026, was a day of great joy, deep gratitude, and overwhelming emotion. As the election results of 2026 unfolded before us, my heart swelled with pride as I watched the democratic spirit of our great nation roar in favour of development, stability, and cultural revival. This wasn’t just an electoral victory; it was a massive validation of the sweat and blood our karyakartas have poured into the grassroots over the years.

The absolute crown jewel of this historic moment is undoubtedly West Bengal. This was not a standard political contest; it was a direct battle between the resilient people of Bengal and the cruel Trinamool Congress. And the people have won. They are not just winning by a narrow margin; they have delivered a crushing, almost two-thirds majority. The absolute majority we are securing is a glorious victory for the identity of Bengal, the restoration of democratic values, and the immense sacrifices of our dedicated workers.

For fifteen years, the citizens of Bengal suffocated under a regime that normalised violence, institutionalised corruption, and unleashed a dreaded ‘Syndicate Raj’. The massive mandate is a reflection of the deep-rooted frustration people harboured against the TMC. Ordinary Bengalis saw neither development nor dignity in this period. But now, the people have uprooted this autocracy through their vote.

Women have been the pioneers of this historic transformation. The horrific scars left by incidents like Sandeshkhali and RG Kar were answered not with helpless tears, but with the silent, devastating power of the EVM. Despite the unimaginable harassment faced by the RG Kar victim’s mother, the women of Bengal responded with a powerful mandate for safety and dignity. Our mothers and sisters have united to show unwavering faith in our leadership.

Let us remember the journey: in 2001, we were at 0. In 2016, we won 3 seats. In 2021, we rose to 77 seats and became the principal opposition. And now, in 2026, the BJP is forming the government in Bengal. This is nothing short of a miracle, but it is a miracle born of years of sacrifice by our workers, relentless struggle, and the trust the people have placed in Prime Minister Modi’s vision.

It is more important to note what Mamata Banerjee offered this time. No ‘report card’ of fifteen years in power. Her entire campaign was limited to abusing the BJP, inflaming the Hindi-Bengali divide, and shielding the corrupt. She even brought in people from other states to campaign for her. But nothing worked.

For years, the TMC insulted Sanatan Dharma, hurt Hindu sentiments, and weaponised appeasement politics. TMC ministers openly threatened Hindus in order to appease their vote bank. The people of Bengal have made it clear: those who disrespect Sanatan will not be accepted in Bengal.

Looking towards the Northeast, Assam stands out as the ultimate masterclass in governance. Assam is a classic example of how a BJP government fundamentally transforms a state and builds an unbreakable bond of trust with its people. What we see here is the glorious victory of ‘pro-incumbency’, a phenomenon where voters actively reward good performance. In all three terms, our government in Assam has been formed with progressively greater support from the public. In this third consecutive term, we are forming the government with an unprecedented more than three-fourths majority. The people of Assam have firmly backed the ‘Double-Engine’ growth and the decisive actions taken against illegal infiltration. In BJP-governed states, voters do not turn against the government; they reaffirm their trust in it, because we make promises and we keep them. Every single one. While the opposition chose to shield infiltrators, the citizens chose a government committed to protecting their civilisation and driving infrastructure growth.

Down south, Kerala is witnessing an altogether new beginning. We have established ourselves as a strong choice in Keralam. We have won 3 seats, and history reminds us that the number ‘3’ is incredibly lucky for us. Just as we once started with 3 seats in Bengal in 2016, jumped to 77 in the next term, and are now sweeping the state to form the government, Kerala is on the same trajectory. The Lotus has now been seeded and is ready to bloom soon. In the upcoming tenures, we will form the government for sure.

In Puducherry, the mandate for continuity is clear as day. We are proudly forming the government for the second consecutive term, proving that the stability provided by the NDA resonates deeply with the public. The journey towards a developed territory continues uninterrupted.

In Tamil Nadu, while we humbly accept the mandate and recognise that we must work harder on the ground, there is a massive silver lining. The DMK’s crushing defeat in Tamil Nadu sends a thunderous message: “Insult to Sanatan will NOT be tolerated by India.” The rejection of Chief Minister MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin makes it crystal clear: the people of Tamil Nadu have completely cast aside those who abuse Sanatan, those who obstruct the path of Deepam, and those who try to divide the nation in the name of region and language.

While we celebrate this beautiful festival of democracy, the state of the principal opposition is truly pathetic. At a time when election results are unfolding and their defeated leaders desperately need moral support, Rahul Gandhi is completely missing from the battlefield. Instead of standing with his cadre, he is away on a foreign visit, as always. A leader who does not stand beside his workers in the hour of crisis, who abandons his party’s leaders and ground-level workers on this decisive moment to travel abroad-how can such a person aspire to lead the people of India? Another feather in his crown is his completion of a century of defeats. This glaring absence proves why the nation has decisively chosen our relentless dedication over the irresponsible leadership of the Congress party.

This mandate carries one clear message: whether it is Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, or Tamil Nadu, wherever the BJP and NDA have earned the people’s trust, the people have responded with overwhelming support. Across these five states, only the BJP and NDA retained their governments, returning with even greater support. This is not merely an electoral victory. It is the people of India placing their seal of approval on ‘Modi’s Guarantee.’

We salute the people of Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to every BJP and NDA worker who toiled tirelessly to make this victory possible. We now take the pledge to serve with even greater responsibility and dedication, to live up to every expectation the people have placed in us. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ — this is our mantra, and this is our path forward.

The writer is National Spokesperson, BJP, and a former Member of the Rajya Sabha; Views presented are personal.

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