New Delhi: Over 1,500 rallies, 15,000 WhatsApp groups and prominent leaders from the party to camp in the state — this is how the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing for the upcoming West Bengal elections.
According to a senior party functionary from West Bengal, the BJP central leadership has asked the state unit to hold at least 1,500 big and small rallies to reach out to voters. Apart from the rallies, instructions have been issued to party workers to form WhatsApp groups at the booth level in each assembly.
“Our mantra is to make Bengal ‘Sonar Bangla’. Right from education, culture, infrastructure, West Bengal has only been going backwards,” said Rahul Sinha, a senior BJP leader and former president of the party’s West Bengal unit. “Lawlessness is also a major area of concern and our publicity campaign is highlighting that.”
Sinha said the party has bolstered its grassroots ranks. “We have strengthened our booth committees and through them, we are reaching out to voters, whether it is about distributing the pamphlets, PM’s letter or other materials,” he added. “At the same time, we have already formed 15,000 WhatsApp groups to connect with voters and disseminate information.”
He further said that in its rallies and Parivartan Yatra, apart from highlighting the failures of the Mamata Banerjee government, the party is focussing on the “alternative” that it is offering.
Senior leaders to camp in the state
The party is also set to send prominent leaders to West Bengal, among whom Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in the state on 26 February.
“Election dates will be announced soon and our campaigning has already gathered steam now,” said a senior BJP leader. “Apart from PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a number of other senior leaders and ministers will also campaign including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Smriti Irani.”
The party has also decided to depute 22 senior leader leaders to supervise around 100-odd assembly constituencies that can play a significant role in its victory. Some of these leaders include Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri, Delhi BJP leader Satish Upadhyay, Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin and former Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore among others.
According to another party functionary, the idea is to create a “positive” mood and the leaders will also discuss the specific programmes that have been announced in the budget.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to hold a public meeting in Kolkata on 7 March to mark the concluding ceremony of the party’s Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal. The rally is set to take place at Brigade Parade Grounds in Hastings’ Fort William.
The party has been making inroads in the state following an impressive Lok Sabha performance and wants to continue the winning streak after the Bihar assembly elections.
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