Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:25pm on 08 Dec 2025,Monday Politics
Parliament's Vande Mataram debate signaled an intense BJP-TMC battle ahead of West Bengal's 2026 assembly elections. Prime Minister Modi traced the National Song's 150-year history, accusing Congress under Nehru of truncating lyrics for "appeasement" politics. TMC MPs spoke in Bangla, challenging BJP's appropriation. TMC's Saugata Roy objected to Modi calling writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay "dada," insisting on "Bankim babu" which Modi accepted. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Shekhawat's error calling him "Bankim Das" gave TMC ammunition, branding BJP "arrogant" and "anti-Bengal." TMC plans leveraging this to prove Modi disrespects Bengal icons. While BJP positions itself as "insider" honoring Bengal's legacy, TMC hopes the debate favors themelectorally.
