The article addresses the political journey of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal over the last decade, beginning with its efforts to establish a foothold outside Northern India after the 2014 elections. It notes that while the BJP did not secure significant results in the 2016 state elections, the shift of Left voter banks toward the BJP was seen as a positive sign. This prompted the central leadership of the BJP to appoint new officials in West Bengal and launch extensive campaigning. Consequently, the BJP emerged as a major opposition party, securing 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, marking a historical milestone for the party in the state.

However, the article points out the paradox of the BJP's significant gain in the 2019 elections yet its inability to ascend to power in the 2021 assembly elections, where it managed to become the principal opposition with 77 seats. Political analysts have pondered this inconsistency, attributing the BJP's setbacks in the state elections largely to the influence of minority votes, particularly from Muslim communities, which are concentrated in specific constituencies. This situation highlights the complexities of voter demographics in Bengal and suggests that the BJP’s strategy may need adjustment to effectively engage minority voters in the future.