Post ‘miserable’ poll results in state, BJP begins ‘damage control’

Kolkata: After its quite a few “miserable” electoral performances in Bengal in recent time, the BJP is in a desperate bid to do some “damage control” ahead of 2026 Assembly elections by restructuring its organisational base.

“Unhappy” over the performance of most of its MLAs, the BJP’s central leadership has directed the “inactive” legislators to intensify the membership drive in their respective areas and to increase their support base through better coordination with the people. The BJP MLAs in the state have also been asked to spend more time in their respective constituencies after their membership drive that had set a target of bringing 1 crore members under its fold failed to yield desired numbers in almost all the districts.

As a result, the Central BJP leaders had to extend the membership drive up to December 31 as the number of members registered is much lower than the target set by Union Home minister Amit Shah. Incidentally, national general secretary of BJP, Sunil Bansal on Monday took stock of the membership drive and expressed his unhappiness over the way the state BJP leaders have performed.

Sources said, membership figure was not even close to the halfway mark of the 1-crore target set by Shah.

Even in places in North Bengal which were considered as a stronghold turned out to be a major embarrassment for the party. Several districts in North Bengal, including Jalpaiguri, did not yield desired numbers. Bansal had earlier hinted that the outcome of the membership drive would directly influence ticket allocation for the 2026 Assembly elections. Following the instruction of the central leadership, the state BJP leaders held a meeting on Wednesday discussing how the membership drive can be strengthened.

The leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress often allege that the BJP falls back on communalism, the moment their leadership senses trouble on the electoral ground.

The BJP went to the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, buoyed by expectations of winning about 35 seats out of total 42 in Bengal.

But the Trinamool Congress, defying all exit-poll predictions, secured 29 seats. Despite challenges posed by the negative campaigns by the BJP and other oppositions centering the RG Kar issue, the ruling party won all the six Assembly by-elections held recently. BJP failed to retain its Madarihat seat.