BJP’s ‘bhadralok’ candidate turns TMC bastion into saffron

KOLKATA: The ‘Bhadralok’ communities in north and south Kolkata, considered impregnable bastions of the TMC for more than a decade, have decisively reversed these elections, revealing the metropolitan electorate’s abandonment of traditional allegiance in exchange for a “new beginning” under the BJP.Professor Maidul Islam said: “The demographics have changed in 15 years. The proportion of non-Bengalis votes has increased in Kolkata. Then, there were high-rise buildings and residents were attracted by the idea of ​​having the same party at the Center and the state. The consciousness of young voters has been influenced by social media, mainstream movies and serials, which played a direct or indirect propaganda role.”Over the years, the BJP has been labeled a “bahiragata (outsider)”. In 2026, its deployment of “intellectual insiders” played a key role in purifying its international image. Journalist and Padma Shri awardee Swapan Dasgupta was inducted into culturally sensitive seats like Rashbehari, along with Sharadwat Mukherjee from Bidhannagar and Indranil Khan from Behala West Khan, helped bridge the gap between the party’s saffron roots and “bhadralok” demands for sophistication.“Bhadralok” is a colloquial term referring to the city’s wealthy gentry.Sayoni Chowdhury, a political scientist, said: “We are seeing the consolidation of a new middle class that is no longer bound by the legacy of the Left or the early TMC era.”Political analyst Udayan Banerjee said the appointment of Samik Bhattacharya as the state president of the BJP was a strategic move because of his intellectual profile. “Seeing candidates speaking our language both literally and intellectually makes the BJP feel less like an imposition from Delhi,” said a resident of south Kolkata.