BJP’s Bengal victory can reshape India’s economic direction: Pradeep Gupta

Axis My India Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Gupta. | Photo credit: PTI

Pollster Pradeep Gupta argued that the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections has the potential to reshape not only the future of the state but also the economic direction of the entire country, citing eastern India’s vast natural resources, ports and untapped trade potential.

The founder and chairman of Axis My India said states like Bihar, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal together have huge economic and strategic importance.

“It is not just about Bengal. A victory there can change the direction and the state of the whole country,” Mr Gupta told PTI in an interview on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) while discussing the wider implications of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral triumph in West Bengal, which ousted the Trinamool Congress from power years after the TMC15.

According to Mr. Gupta, the importance of eastern India stems from its natural resources, maritime access and connectivity with the Northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Referring to West Bengal’s geographical location, he said access to the Andaman Islands effectively passes through the state, underscoring its strategic importance.

He noted that Bengali and Tamil-speaking communities form a substantial part of the population in the islands, as East India has historically served as an important resource and migration base.

Mr. Gupta pointed out that regions with strong port infrastructure and trade network have historically become centers of prosperity.

“It is often said that countries with the most ports become the most prosperous because trade and business move through them. Without the movement of goods and trade, prosperity cannot come,” he said.

Lamenting what he described as the economic decline of eastern India, Mr Gupta questioned the development trajectory of Bihar and Odisha despite their mineral wealth and natural resources. He also said that Assam and much of the Northeast remained geographically and economically isolated for a long time.

“Look at the state of Bihar. If you separate Odisha’s mines and natural resources for a moment, what is left of its economy? Assam and the northeast have been virtually cut off for years,” he said.

In West Bengal, Mr Gupta said the state once served as one of India’s leading industrial and commercial hubs, home to several major corporate headquarters during the colonial and early post-independence years.

He mentioned the migration of businesses and business communities from Kolkata over the decades, saying that many firms shifted operations to cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, while several business families later moved abroad.

He also cited the failure of Tata Motors’ Nano project in Singur as an example of the loss of industrial opportunities in West Bengal.

“Those who tried to tap Bengal’s potential like the Nano factory project were chased away,” he said.

Gupta further argued that migrant voters from eastern India seemed unusually determined to travel back home to cast their votes this time, suggesting a strong undercurrent of political change.

Recalling conversations with people traveling from cities like Mumbai, Mr. Gupta said many voters were eager to participate despite logistical difficulties and concerns about turnout.

Published – 22 May 2026 20:13 IST