Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a crucial meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament from West Bengal on Wednesday, delivering clear instructions on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The interaction, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes in Delhi, centered on ensuring the electoral roll process remains straightforward and free from bias.
Core Directive: Secular Approach to Voter List Clean-Up
The Prime Minister explicitly asked the Bengal BJP leaders to refrain from bringing caste, creed, or religion into their discourse concerning the voter roll revision. He emphasized that the sole objective of the SIR exercise is to legitimately include eligible voters and remove ineligible names from the electoral rolls. This instruction aims to steer the conversation towards citizenship and legality rather than identity politics.
BJP's Ranaghat MP, Jagannath Sarkar, elaborated after the meeting, stating, "There are people whose names have been included in the voters' list although they do not have credentials. He asked us not to talk about their religion or caste. The electoral roll should have the names of Indian citizens only, and we have to ensure that the SIR process is conducted peacefully."
Building a Narrative on Development and Organization
PM Modi also advised the state leaders not to be distracted by the opposition's political narratives. Instead, he directed them to concentrate on bolstering the party's organizational strength in Bengal. To achieve this, he called for an expansion of outreach programs, with a special focus on connecting with the youth. A state BJP leader revealed that while regular programs are ongoing, the PM insisted that MPs need to go beyond and develop deeper mass contact.
Furthermore, Modi asked the netas to effectively communicate the benefits of centrally sponsored schemes in the state. Bengal BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya highlighted this point, noting, "There are more than 50 centrally sponsored schemes in the state, and people of Bengal have benefitted from those. There are many schemes which the state government did not allow to launch."
Focus on Unity and Welfare
Samik Bhattacharya underscored the PM's philosophy, stating, "For the PM, an Indian has a single identity. He wants cleansing of the electoral rolls and asked us to assist the Election Commission in doing that." This reinforces the message of universal citizenship over fragmented identities.
In a gesture highlighting his concern for colleagues, Prime Minister Modi also inquired about the health of Malda North MP Khagen Murmu. Murmu was recently attacked during a visit to flood-affected areas in north Bengal.
The meeting signifies a strategic push by the BJP leadership in Bengal, focusing on governance, organizational growth, and a disciplined, issue-based approach ahead of crucial electoral cycles, while maintaining a firm stance on the integrity of the electoral process.
