Old Anti-BJP Campaign Video Resurfaces Ahead of West Bengal’s Second Phase of Polling

As West Bengal prepares for the second phase of its Assembly elections on April 29, a video purportedly showing non-resident Indians (NRIs) urging voters to reject the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained significant traction on social media. However, an investigation reveals the footage is actually from 2021, recycled from the previous state election cycle.

The viral clip, shared widely across platforms, features Bengali individuals living abroad encouraging voters to oppose the BJP. One social media post sharing the video claimed: “Highly educated Bengalees staying abroad in different countries across the world have a significant appeal to their fellow citizen in a unique way by promoting Bengali culture. ‘No vote to BJP’. Salutes to them.”

The timing of the video’s resurgence coincides with heightened political tensions in West Bengal, where the first phase of polling recently concluded with a remarkable 92 percent voter turnout. Both the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the opposition BJP have claimed this high participation will benefit their respective parties.

Fact-checking efforts have established that the video originated during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections as part of an organized campaign called “No Vote To BJP.” The campaign was launched in January 2021 by a coalition of political and civil rights activists specifically targeting that year’s state elections.

The video was originally published on April 24, 2021, across multiple platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube under accounts with the “No Vote To BJP” branding. These accounts posted numerous similar videos as part of their coordinated effort to influence voters against the BJP in that election cycle.

According to contemporary reports from major news outlets including The Times of India and NDTV, the campaign gained considerable traction during the 2021 elections. An analysis published in The Hindu suggested that this initiative played a role in helping Mamata Banerjee’s TMC secure a decisive victory against the BJP, despite the latter’s aggressive campaign and significant resources.

This isn’t the first time this particular video has resurfaced. It previously circulated during both the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections and again during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, each time presented as current content despite being years old.

The recycling of old campaign materials as new content highlights the increasingly complex information landscape surrounding Indian elections. As West Bengal’s political battleground heats up for the second phase of polling, social media has become a crucial, if sometimes misleading, platform for political messaging.

West Bengal’s elections are particularly significant in India’s political landscape, as the eastern state represents a crucial battleground between the BJP’s nationwide expansion efforts and regional powers like the TMC. The state’s political dynamics are characterized by fierce competition and deeply entrenched voter loyalties.

The current election comes at a time when both parties are seeking to consolidate their positions. The TMC aims to maintain its stronghold in the state, while the BJP continues its efforts to expand its influence in eastern India, a region where it has historically struggled to gain significant electoral traction.

As the second phase of voting approaches, election officials and media watchdogs are on high alert for misinformation that could potentially influence voter behavior. The circulation of dated campaign materials presented as current content remains a persistent challenge in ensuring voters have access to accurate information.