DARJEELING MP Raju Bista dropped a bombshell on Saturday, forecasting a massive victory for BJP in West Bengal’s assembly polls with 170 to 180 seats in the bag. The confident assertion came amid preparations for PM Modi’s Sikkim sojourn, where Bista detected a seismic change in public mood.
At Gangtok’s Burtuk Helipad, post-review of logistics for the PM’s April 27-28 visit, Bista, flanked by Dilip Jaiswal, laid out his vision. The itinerary ties into Sikkim’s golden jubilee celebrations as a state, blending pomp with policy.
‘Bengal is rallying behind BJP like never before,’ Bista told journalists. Citing first-phase voting—over 92% turnout on 152 seats—he predicted triumphs in about 110. Blame games aside, he pinned success on corruption scandals, job scarcity driving youth exodus, and unresolved border demographics.
These pain points, simmering for years under prior regimes, have crystallized into votes, per Bista. He also touched on Darjeeling and Dooars, eyeing a constitutional political fix by 2026.
Shifting gears to Sikkim, Bista hailed Modi’s trip as a landmark, spotlighting the state’s strides. ‘It’ll put Sikkim on the national map for all the right reasons,’ he enthused. With Sambit Patra and other leaders already in place, events from rallies to ceremonies are primed.
For Sikkim residents, the PM’s arrival is pure pride. Bista’s upbeat outlook on Bengal elections suggests BJP’s grassroots machinery is firing on all cylinders, poised for a historic haul that could upend Mamata Banerjee’s stronghold.
