With the BJP and Nitish Kumar alliance securing victory in Bihar as early trends indicated a favourable mandate, Union minister Giriraj Singh on Friday turned his political gaze eastwards.

Barely hours after the numbers began tilting towards the NDA, Mr Singh declared that the party’s next objective would be West Bengal—setting off a fresh political flashpoint between the BJP and the Trinamul Congress ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Buoyed by what he called the “clear fragrance of victory” in Bihar, Mr Singh asserted, “We are winning Bihar. Our next target is West Bengal.” His remark, delivered with characteristic bluntness, was immediately interpreted by the TMC as the BJP’s attempt to mount an early psychological offensive in Bengal. But the ruling party in the state was quick to

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