Why BJP’s Bengal landslide will worry China, US and Pakistan

May 12, 2026 | 12:50 IST

PM Modi and Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

BJP's Bengal win strengthens PM Modi’s hand in dealing with Bangladesh and with both the great powers – China and the US. Pakistan, too, will be particularly unsettled

West Bengal shares an international border with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. The border with Bangladesh is the longest at over 2,217 km. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal now has the opportunity to leverage the key border state as part of its geopolitical strategy with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the United States.

As far back as 2009, with the Left in power in West Bengal, the US consulate in Calcutta (now Kolkata) identified Trinamool Congress’ Mamata Banerjee as a leader to cultivate. The Americans wanted to see an end to Communist rule in the state. Banerjee was their carefully considered choice.

TOI

TOI

Why BJP’s Bengal landslide will worry China, US and Pakistan

BJP's Bengal win strengthens PM Modi’s hand in dealing with Bangladesh and with both the great powers – China and the US. Pakistan, too, will be particularly unsettled

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TOI

Why BJP’s Bengal landslide will worry China, US and Pakistan

BJP's Bengal win strengthens PM Modi’s hand in dealing with Bangladesh and with both the great powers – China and the US. Pakistan, too, will be particularly unsettled

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