Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a sharp political offensive against the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, alleging that the state has been gripped by an atmosphere of fear, corruption, and administrative failure for over a decade.

Addressing a press interaction, Shah accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of stalling development and allowing corruption to flourish unchecked. He claimed that several welfare initiatives launched by the Narendra Modi government had failed to reach beneficiaries in Bengal due to what he described as an entrenched “toll and syndicate culture”.

Shah further alleged that the state government had deliberately weakened border management, allowing illegal infiltration to continue. Drawing comparisons with neighbouring states, he said that while infiltration had been effectively curbed in Assam and Tripura, Bengal had emerged as the primary entry point due to political patronage.

“Why is land not being provided for border fencing in Bengal?” Shah asked, directly questioning the state leadership. He alleged that local administration and police machinery were turning a blind eye to cross-border movement, allowing the situation to persist under the current regime.

Calling infiltration a serious national security concern, the Home Minister said Bengal’s borders could not be left vulnerable for political gains. He asserted that demographic changes driven by illegal entry were being encouraged to serve electoral interests, a charge he said threatened both security and social harmony.

Projecting confidence ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Shah said the BJP was steadily expanding its base in the state and would form the next government with a decisive mandate. Citing the party’s electoral growth over the past decade, he said Bengal was ready for a “new chapter” focused on development, cultural revival, and strong governance.