In a crucial strategy session ahead of the high-stakes West Bengal assembly elections due in 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has issued a clear directive to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) public representatives: intensify grassroots outreach or risk losing party tickets. During a closed-door meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, Shah laid down strict performance benchmarks for MPs, MLAs, and local leaders from the state.
Strict Grassroots Mandate for BJP Leaders
Amit Shah instructed all BJP public representatives to spend a minimum of four days every week in their respective constituencies. Furthermore, he mandated that they hold at least five street-corner meetings daily to connect directly with voters. This directive is part of the party's aggressive preparation for the assembly elections, which are just over four months away. A senior party leader present at the meeting revealed that Shah told leaders they must "prove their worth" to be considered for party tickets in the upcoming polls.
Unifying the Ranks and Key Leadership Signals
Emphasising unity within the state unit, Amit Shah indicated that former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh would be one of the key faces of the party in the electoral battle. Ghosh, who has been relatively less visible in recent months, was specially invited to the meeting, signalling his renewed importance in the campaign machinery. Shah also held a separate interaction with Ghosh, former state chief Sukanta Majumdar, current state president Samik Bhattacharya, and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, in an apparent move to bridge gaps between senior and newer leaders.
While leaving the venue, Dilip Ghosh told reporters, "I can’t say much, but you will see an active Dilip Ghosh in the 2026 polls. I was called to listen to my experiences and opinions." Suvendu Adhikari expressed confidence, stating, "Everyone in the party is energised. We will win the 2026 polls and bring about true change in this state."
Election Strategy and Feedback from 2024 Lok Sabha
Acting as the party's chief election strategist, Amit Shah also gathered detailed feedback from BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha candidates regarding their campaign experiences, analysing factors behind both wins and losses. He asked them to submit comprehensive assessments of the assembly segments within their parliamentary constituencies to aid in planning for the state polls.
The meeting focused on reviewing the organisational readiness of the BJP's West Bengal unit. Senior BJP MP Khagen Murmu stated he conveyed his resolve to fight the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government despite facing alleged attacks during a recent visit to a flood-affected area. "Despite being beaten up by TMC goons… I am not afraid," he asserted, adding that public support was with the BJP.
Another leader said Shah stressed on intensive booth-level mobilisation and the deployment of 'vistaraks' (full-time party workers) across all constituencies to solidify the party's base. Shah also announced that he would spend a few days every month in Kolkata in the run-up to the 2026 elections. In his address, he invoked Bengal's icons like Swami Vivekananda, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, and Rabindranath Tagore, promising a revival of the state's heritage and culture under a BJP government.
Earlier, Shah had launched a sharp critique of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of corruption and altering the state's demography through infiltration—an issue he stated would be central to the BJP's campaign. Following the meeting, Shah addressed a party workers' conference in Kolkata and visited the Thantania Kali Temple before returning to Delhi.
