Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of blocking the construction of an India-Bangladesh border fence.
The dispute highlights a growing political rift between the two states over national security and the management of illegal infiltration. The friction comes as the BJP-NDA celebrates a significant electoral mandate in Assam.
Speaking in Guwahati on Thursday, Sarma said that the blocking of the fence has allowed infiltration to continue, a move he linked directly to threats against national security [1, 2]. The chief minister said the security vulnerabilities were created by the lack of a completed physical barrier between the two nations [1, 2].
Sarma also addressed the recent 2026 Assam election results, thanking voters for the BJP-NDA's sweeping victory [1, 2]. The alliance crossed 100 seats in the state [3], marking a historic third consecutive term for the party in Assam [3].
During his address, Sarma shifted his focus to the political landscape in West Bengal. He said the BJP would win 200 seats in that state [2]. This projection serves as a challenge to Banerjee's administration, framing the border security issue as a central pillar of the BJP's regional platform [2].
While the BJP-NDA views the fence as a necessary tool for sovereignty, the political disagreement over its implementation continues to define the relationship between the leadership in Guwahati and Kolkata [1, 2].
“Sarma said that the blocking of the fence has allowed infiltration to continue”
The tension between Sarma and Banerjee reflects a broader strategic conflict over how to manage the India-Bangladesh border. By linking the electoral success in Assam to the issue of infiltration, the BJP is attempting to nationalize the border security narrative to gain traction in West Bengal, where the border fence remains a point of intense political and administrative contention.
