These issues include so-called Muslim appeasement, illegal immigration from Bangladesh, defence of Hindus, celebrating Hindu socio-religious functions, etc, that are perceived by political elites to have some bearing on elections.

While the BJP has strong incentives to “demonise” the religiously homogeneous Muslims, who are perceived to be captive voters of the TMC, the ruling party has sensed that in order to offset the gains by the former it must do all it can to wean away potential Hindu voters from swinging right.

Now that the process has begun in earnest, with all the usual rhetoric in place, both the BJP and the TMC will try to outdo each other in competing for both Muslim and Hindu votes. The BJP’s high levels of anti-Muslim rhetoric is matched by the TMC’s pro-Hindu flirtations. Needless to say, competing hostilities and defence could reach a tipping point and unleash the communal genie in ways that could prove disastrous for Bengal.