BJP Faces Criticism for Tepid Response After Kolkata Flood Tragedy

At least ten people were killed by electrocution during Monday night’s devastating floods in Kolkata, which also caused severe hardship for residents in both high-rise apartments and urban slums. Yet, in the aftermath, the Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appeared conspicuously absent from relief efforts, drawing criticism for its muted response.

While the party’s IT cell remained active on social media—issuing statements, attacking the Mamata Banerjee-led government, and sharing memes—its so-called kavi yodhas (street warriors) were nowhere to be seen. The floods, striking just months ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, might have provided the BJP with a platform to question the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government’s governance failures. Instead, senior leaders within the party are divided over whether the opportunity was lost.

“What could we have done? Should we have blocked roads ahead of Durga Puja? Wouldn’t that have only caused further inconvenience to people?” asked a former BJP Bengal president, betraying frustration at the party’s struggle to connect with the state’s electorate.

The episode evokes memories of Mamata Banerjee’s political rise nearly 25 years ago. As the Opposition leader and Railway Minister in 2000, she famously accused the then Left Front government of creating a “man-made flood” after inundations devastated several districts. On that occasion, even her own Harish Chatterjee Street home was flooded as water from the Tolly Nullah seeped into her bedroom—an experience she described as “unprecedented.” The phrase resurfaced this week as Banerjee sought to shift blame for Kolkata’s flooding and electrocution deaths onto the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), the Kolkata Electric Supply Corporation (CESC), and authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Over her 14 years in power, the Opposition has repeatedly attempted to capitalise on crises, but with little political success. Some within the Bengal BJP now concede this week’s floods represented another missed opportunity. “The state president [Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya] has yet to appoint his own team within the organisation,” admitted one leader. “Those handling daily affairs are uncertain about whether they will retain positions once the new committee is formed.” The lack of clarity, they argued, has left the party adrift at a critical juncture.

For now, BJP insiders say the state unit is preoccupied with national-level programmes, including the Seva Pakhwada (Fortnight of Service) being observed from September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, through to October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. “Across the country, our leaders and workers are deeply engaged in service programmes. Bengal is no exception,” party sources explained.

Nevertheless, BJP’s most visible face in the state, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, rejected suggestions that the party was missing in action. “Who says so? Just yesterday, our MLAs visited the families of those who died from electrocution. The BJP is always active on every issue,” he insisted.