Mission 2026: Will veteran ministers of Modi government contest the Bengal and Kerala assembly elections? Know BJP’s mega plan

News India Live, Digital Desk: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised the level of its strategy for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala (Assembly Elections 2026). According to reports, the party is planning to field several cabinet and state ministers of the central government in a bold and aggressive move this time. The main objective of this strategy is to present a strong leadership option at the local level and make its presence decisive in both the states. BJP’s strategy: ‘Central heavy’ stakes. According to party sources, the names of the candidates were brainstormed in the high-level core committee meeting held in Delhi (12 March 2026). In this meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at least 100-100 seats of Kerala and Bengal were discussed. West Bengal: BJP wants to come here against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with a ‘collective leadership’ and ‘face of development’. Leaders like state unit president Sukanta Majumdar (who is himself a Union minister) and Subhendu Adhikari as well as some other Union ministers are also considering contesting the assembly elections. Kerala: Here the BJP aims to emerge as the third force under ‘Mission 2026’. The party can hand over a bigger role in the state politics to popular faces like Suresh Gopi (Thrissur MP and Union Minister) and Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Why does the party want to field ministers? Anti-incumbency contest: Based on the experience of the Union ministers and the development work done by them, the party wants to capitalize on the anti-incumbency wave. Organizational strength: When a big face from the Center contests the elections, the morale of the local cadre and workers. Increases significantly. Message of seriousness: This signals to the voters how serious the BJP is about forming the government in the state and that it has an experienced team to govern. These big names can be discussed (probable list) StatePotential candidates (central level faces) Constituencies/regions West BengalSukant Majumdar, Shantanu Thakur, Nishith PramanikNorth Bengal and Matua dominated areas KeralaSuresh Gopi, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, V. Muralitharan, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad Election Preparations: At a Glance Bengal: BJP has created ‘war rooms’ by dividing the state into different zones. Corruption and law and order are being made the main election issues. Kerala: The party is focusing on outreach with Christian communities and polarization of Hindu votes here.