Union Home Minister Amit Shah has unveiled an action plan for the Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal unit in preparation for the 2026 assembly elections, scheduled for March-April.
Shah, the party’s chief poll strategist, has reportedly directed public representatives to spend at least four days a week in their constituencies and hold a minimum of five street-corner meetings daily.
In a first, during his visit, Shah reached out to the Bengal unit of the RSS to coordinate a joint poll strategy. Reports indicate that Shah chaired at least five political meetings with various configurations, including a brainstorming session with local RSS leaders.
Shah also hinted that former state president Dilip Ghosh would be one of the BJP’s key faces in the upcoming elections.
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On Wednesday, Shah held a closed-door meeting with party MPs, MLAs, civic body councillors, and organisational portfolio holders to assess the party's poll preparedness. During the meeting, he stressed the importance of party cohesion and called for a unified front, according to a party leader who spoke to PTI news agency.
Shah further emphasised the pivotal role of booth-level workers in strengthening the BJP's organisational base in Bengal.
"Shah will be staying in Kolkata for several days each month leading up to the 2026 polls," the BJP leader added.
The Union Home Minister also held a separate meeting with Ghosh, who has been away from the BJP's activities in the state for the past several months. Former state president Sukanta Majumdar, current state president Samik Bhattacharya, and the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, were also present.
"I can't say much, but you will see an active Dilip Ghosh in the 2026 polls. I was called to share my experiences and opinions," Ghosh told reporters after the meeting.
According to reports, Ghosh had been sidelined following an alleged meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple complex in Digha earlier this year.
The BJP, however, aims to capitalise on Ghosh's organisational acumen, particularly since under his leadership, the party rose from three seats in the state assembly to over 70, while also securing 18 parliamentary constituencies in 2019. |
