The coming of BJP to power marks the formal beginning of the saffronisation of Bengal’s political culture 6 min read May 10, 2026 05:49 PM IST First published on: May 10, 2026 at 05:49 PM IST With the swearing-in of the BJP government on May 9, the politics of West Bengal enters a new phase after an unprecedented election. The 2026 state assembly election was unique in many ways. First, the polls were conducted based on an incomplete voter list since the purification of the electoral rolls through a special intensive revision remained unfinished, leaving behind the applications of 2.7 million people, including polling officers, under adjudication before tribunals. Second, the extraordinary deployment of security forces ensured a largely peaceful election in a state known for political violence. The voter turnout was the highest ever. Third, the election campaign and, subsequently, the results show extreme communal polarisation of voting behaviour.…