Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to release a White Paper against the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday, highlighting alleged failures, corruption, misadministration, and politically motivated violence during the party’s three consecutive terms. He will address the media at 12 noon while unveiling the document.
Shah arrived in Kolkata late Friday night, with his special flight originally scheduled to land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 11:40 P.M. However, adverse weather caused by heavy rainfall and gusty winds delayed the landing. The flight remained airborne for an extended period and finally touched down at around 1:20 P.M.
Ahead of his arrival, Shah questioned why West Bengal, among other poll-bound states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, experienced multiple controversies surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He noted that unlike West Bengal, no judicial officers were appointed, and no political parties staged protests over the revision exercise in the other states, which are also governed by non-BJP parties.
A state BJP committee member in West Bengal said the White Paper will document instances of administrative lapses, corruption, nepotism, and alleged orchestrated violence allegedly resulting from appeasement politics under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration. The report is expected to form the basis for political discourse as West Bengal heads into upcoming elections.
The White Paper’s release comes a day after the second supplementary list of cases referred for judicial adjudication was published late Friday night at 11:30 P.M. The list, made available on the websites of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal, does not provide detailed figures regarding the total number of cases processed or how many names have been excluded. Officials had not shared this information with the media as of Saturday morning.
Shah’s visit to Kolkata, delayed due to extreme weather, emphasizes the political significance of the event and underscores the urgency with which the BJP intends to highlight administrative challenges and alleged misgovernance in West Bengal. Party sources indicate that the White Paper is intended to strengthen public awareness about governance issues while drawing national attention to alleged electoral irregularities in the state.
The Home Minister’s address is expected to detail specific cases of mismanagement and highlight patterns of alleged appeasement politics, providing both party cadres and the public with documented claims. Analysts suggest the move may influence political narratives ahead of elections and intensify scrutiny of the Trinamool Congress government’s administration.
The White Paper release, coupled with ongoing judicial reviews of the electoral roll, signals heightened political activity in West Bengal, reflecting growing tensions between national and state political agendas. Citizens and media outlets await the detailed report, which will be presented to the public in a structured format during Shah’s press briefing.
