BJP begins campaign for Bengal Assembly elections with Parivartan Yatras

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership on Sunday (March 1, 2026) began its campaign for West Bengal Assembly elections with four Parivartan Yatras (March for change) starting from four corners of the State.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin along with State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya flagged off a Parivartan Yatra from Cooch Behar in north Bengal. Party leaders alleged that north Bengal remained neglected despite repeated promises by the Trinamool Congress government and that the administrative functioning in Uttar Kanya, the secretariat for north Bengal, remained ineffective. The BJP leadership promised equal regional development, infrastructure expansion and administrative accountability for people of north Bengal. Mr. Nabin said that the Parivartan Yatras launched across the State would cover a distance of about 5,000 km with a promise of ‘new Bengal’ for the people of the State.

Former BJP president and Union Minister J.P. Nadda along with BJP MP and Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar flagged off another Parivartan Yatra from Krishnanagar in Nadia. Speaking at the launch of the yatra, Mr. Nadda said industries in different sectors from coal to steel to heavy industries to jute mills had declined in the State during the Trinamool Congress regime. The Union Minister said that it was the responsibility of the people to remove a government under whose watch the rape and murder was committed at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari flagged off another Parivartan Sankalpa Yatra from Garbeta in Paschim Medinipur. Mr. Pradhan targeted the Trinamool Congress government on several counts and said that the people of West Bengal had made up their minds to change the anti-poor, anti-women and corrupt government that supported infiltration across the border.

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi and Former Union Minister Smriti Irani addressed a gathering at Kulti in Asansol and flagged off another Parivartan Yatra that will cover the south western parts of the State. The Union Minister recalled incidents of crime against women, including the rape and murder of doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, and said that State had become a safe haven for criminals.

On March 2, five more Parivartan Yatras will be flagged off in the State. The BJP leadership on February 27 launched a theme song and route march of the Parivartan Yatras in the State.

All nine yatras will conclude with a public rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Grounds. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to join the Parivartan Yatra on Monday (March 2) and likely to address a public meeting at Raidighi in South 24 Parganas.

With elections to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly likely to be announced in the next few days, the BJP leaders have flagged off the Parivartan Yatras with the slogan “Paltano Dorkar Chai BJP Sorkar (Need change and want BJP government)”.