BJP's High-Stakes Bengal Visit: Shah and Nadda Fine-Tune Strategy for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

To fine-tune the BJP's poll strategy in Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections, union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J.P. Nadda will have at least three organizational meetings in the city on Tuesday with the party's Bengal leadership, social media strategists, and sympathisers.

After arriving in the city late on Monday night on two separate aircraft, Shah and Nadda went to a hotel in Rajarhat where they had a quick meeting with state leaders.

In addition to attending strategic meetings with the Bengal unit on Tuesday, the two prominent members of the BJP will pay visits to the Kalighat temple and the Gurudwara Bara Sikh Sangat on MG Road.

According to a BJP source, Shah and Nadda would meet together for an hour on Tuesday at 12.15 p.m. with members of the party's core committee, which includes state president Sukanta Majumdar, leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari, four general secretaries in the state, and three party observers.

The pair is slated to meet supporters, members of the party's social media team, and a few "eminent personalities of Calcutta" for thirty minutes starting at 4:30 p.m. at the National Library.

The party's top leaders, as well as a few chosen MLAs and MPs, are expected to attend the third organizational meeting, which is set to take place at the same Rajarhat hotel.

The two heavyweights will then depart from Calcutta.

The national BJP has been visiting the state more often in the last year or two, which has reflected the party's rising interest in Bengal. The party believes it can greatly boost its tally in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from 18 five years ago.

Several BJP officials said that the pair's most recent visit is unique as it reflects the central leadership's will to get more involved in the party's Bengali issues.

The fact that Amit ji and Nadda ji, two powerful men, are getting together to have organizational meetings in Bengal is unusual. This new approach was taken ahead of the recently held Assembly elections in five states. According to a source, "Central leaders will actively get involved in handling organizational issues and developing the blueprint on poll strategy because we all know the results."

The source gave the September election strategy conference that Shah and Nadda attended with top party officials in Rajasthan for the purpose of finalizing the likely candidate list. "The same strategy has been adopted for Bengal and that's why the duo are here," stated a source.

In light of the intricate political terrain of Bengal and the BJP's ongoing internal strife, Shah—who, at a rally in Suri this April, set a goal of 35 seats in the state—is anticipated to evaluate his party's readiness and provide the state leadership with deadline-driven directives on Tuesday.

"Amit ji will personally take charge of Bengal, Telangana, Odisha and a few other states where the party is desperate to increase its tally," according to a source.

The Trinamul leadership played down the presence of the top BJP officials.

"During the winter, Bengal is a great destination to explore, particularly before the New Year. Leader and spokesman for the Trinamul Congress Tapas Roy said, "Let the leaders of the BJP from Delhi enjoy their trip to the City of Joy."

Extra coverage provided by Saibal Gupta