West Bengal BJP rejects alliance with NCPI for municipal elections, vows solo victory

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has closed the door on any electoral pact with the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI) for the upcoming Kolkata and Howrah municipal elections, declaring the saffron party will contest independently. "NCPI is an ally of NDA. In West Bengal BJP will go alone. We will secure two-thirds majority in Howrah and Kolkata civic bodies on our strength," Bhattacharya told media persons.

Rejecting NCPI despite NDA ties

The announcement comes despite NCPI's status as an NDA constituent and repeated public appeals by NCPI MPs for an alliance. NCPI MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar had recently stated their party would contest the KMC elections as part of the NDA. Bandyopadhyay claimed he had spoken to senior BJP leaders who were receptive to the tie-up with NCPI, a proposal the Bengal BJP president now explicitly rejects.

Over the past few days, Bhattacharya has consistently advocated against any alliance with NCPI, even as a section of rebel Trinamool Congress MPs have pushed for the arrangement. The NCPI gained prominence after 20 MPs from the ruling Trinamool Congress defected to the little-known party following the Trinamool's defeat in assembly polls.

Expanded civic battleground after delimitation

The West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed two Bills on August 12, 2026, enabling delimitation of wards in both municipal corporations. The number of wards in Kolkata will increase from 144 to 209, while Howrah's wards will grow from 50 to 68. Elections are likely after the Durga Puja holidays. The Trinamool Congress had maintained control over both corporations for two decades until councillors recently resigned.

Grassroots concerns over Trinamool defectors

Senior BJP leaders from West Bengal, including Bhattacharya, oppose bringing NCPI on board because it could create fresh confusion among grassroots-level workers. Internal debate already exists within party ranks that the BJP leadership is accommodating "good (bhalo) Trinamool".

Ahead of the municipal elections, the state BJP president warned ticket aspirants that merely holding a saffron flag does not guarantee an election ticket, addressing high expectations from internal party workers and newly joined members following the party's Assembly poll victory.

A controversy also erupted over flags of the ruling party being removed at Shibpur in Howrah. Bhattacharya responded that no one can remove BJP flags in the existing political situation, adding there are not many to hold flags of Opposition parties.

Source: The Hindu