Muslims make up a significant portion of the electorate in the poll-bound state
NEW DELHI — In what many see as a blunt attempt to downplay the political weight of Muslims in West Bengal, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh has declared that his party does not need to chase votes from the community.
The reasoning he put forward — that Muslims do not traditionally back the BJP — landed weakly, doing little to mask the dismissal behind the statement.
In an interview, Ghosh said there was little political value in reaching out to voters who are unlikely to back his party. “Why should we seek votes from someone who does not vote for us?” he remarked, adding a sharp analogy to underline his point. “If I know you will not attend my daughter’s wedding, why should I invite you?” media reports quoted him as saying on Tuesday.
Ghosh’s comments come as political parties are actively strategising ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, where Muslims make up a significant portion of the electorate.
The BJP leader also linked the question of political representation to voting patterns. He said his party would consider nominating Muslim candidates only when the community begins supporting it electorally.
The remarks have sparked debate, with critics arguing that such statements risk deepening political and social divides, especially in a diverse state like West Bengal.
Over the recent election cycles, the BJP has been focusing on consolidating Hindu votes in the state. According to Ghosh, the party’s priority remains expanding its support base within the Hindu population.
He acknowledged that while the BJP has made gains, it has not yet secured enough votes to gain power decisively. “Last time we got around 55 per cent of Hindu votes. We need to increase that by another 10 per cent,” he said.
Ghosh also pointed out that voting patterns are not uniform, noting that not all Muslims vote for one party and citing instances where smaller parties have attracted sections of Muslim voters.
