BJP adopts bottom-up push, targets seats in Kolkata region

Kolkata: BJP is going to adopt a bottom-up, region-specific campaign strategy with special focus on wresting the prestigious Kolkata and adjacent district seats in West Bengal. While big plans have already been made to release a ‘chargesheet’ by Union minister Amit Shah on March 28 and a ‘white paper’ on the shortcomings of the TMC government and campaigns by the prime minister and Shah, BJP sources said the real effort has started with intense door-to-door campaigns coupled with outreach on area-specific issues.

In 2021, the focus was largely on the prime minister and central ministers’ campaigns due to Covid.

Region-Specific Issues

The BJP has adopted a region-specific campaign focused on local issues-development gaps, healthcare, education and law & order. Shah is set to release a ‘chargesheet’ against the TMC government, highlighting alleged misgovernance and corruption with a localised focus.

For instance, in Panihati AC in North 24 Parganas, garbage dumping is a major issue while in Alipurduar, educational infrastructure, roads and healthcare are concerns.

Area-specific chargesheets will be taken to the people in every area and addressed, sources informed.
100- seat Target in Kolkata regionThe BJP has set a target to win over a 100 seats in Kolkata and the adjoining districts of Howrah, Hooghly, South and North 24 Paraganas. There are 29-odd seats in Kolkata and adjoining areas. Issues like law and order and administrative failure and the recent RG Kar issue will be highlighted in Kolkata.

The 29 core Kolkata seats have all been TMC strongholds for years and tickets have been given to heavyweight candidates. This time also, these seats are fought by sitting Trinamool MLAs and Trinamool ministers.

BJP sources said candidate selection in Kolkata now favours grassroots leaders, citing Tapas Roy in Maniktala. Veteran Sajal Ghosh and LoP Suvendu Adhikari (Bhabanipur) are among key picks.

North Bengal & Purulia-Bankura

BJP, which was in a comfortable position in North Bengal in 2021, aims to win 45 of the 54 seats. In 2021, BJP won 34 seats, sources said.

The party is focusing on door-to-door campaigns and micro-level booth management. They will inform voters on Central schemes and focus on building a ‘New North Bengal’ and address the problems of tea garden workers and other issues.