HM Shah directs Bengal BJP to focus on 28 Assembly segments in and around Kolkata
Kolkata, Dec 31
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday directed leaders of the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party to place special emphasis on 28 Assembly constituencies under four organisational districts in and around the state capital Kolkata for the crucial Assembly elections scheduled next year.
HM Shah issued the direction at a meeting with party leaders on Wednesday, the last day of his three-day visit to West Bengal. Besides core leaders of the BJP's state unit, grassroots-level organisational leaders from the four districts were also asked to attend the meeting.
The four organisational districts are Kolkata (Dakshin) and Kolkata (Uttar) within the city, Jadavpur in South 24 Parganas, and Dum Dum in North 24 Parganas. Incidentally, these four organisational districts also correspond to four Lok Sabha constituencies.
"The Union Home Minister reminded us that BJP candidates trailed in 26 of the 28 Assembly constituencies under these four organisational districts in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite that, he has set a target of winning a majority of these 28 Assembly seats in 2026, with special emphasis on constituencies where the party's defeat margins were thin in 2024," said a BJP state committee member.
After attending the organisational meeting at the Science City Auditorium in the eastern outskirts of Kolkata, HM Shah visited the Thanthania Goddess Kali temple in north Kolkata and offered prayers.
State Congress leaders and workers, led by state Congress president Suvankar Sarkar, staged protest demonstrations along HM Shah's route to the temple. However, a large police contingent erected barricades and ensured a reasonable distance between HM Shah's convoy and the protesters.
After offering prayers, HM Shah's convoy proceeded to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. He is scheduled to return to New Delhi later in the night.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the focus on strategy, I wish our political leaders would spend as much energy on discussing concrete development plans for Bengal as they do on election mathematics. What about jobs, infrastructure, and women's safety in these 28 segments?
Jadavpur and Dum Dum are always key battlegrounds. The visit to the Kali temple is also significant – connects with the cultural pulse. But the real test is on the ground, not in auditorium meetings. BJP's grassroots workers have a tough task ahead.
The protest by Congress shows the political heat. But honestly, as a young voter from South Kolkata, I'm more interested in what any party will do for education and startup opportunities here. Less drama, more development, please!
Following Indian politics from abroad. It's fascinating to see such micro-level targeting of constituencies. The data-driven approach is very modern. The 2026 state elections in Bengal will be a major political event to watch.
Setting a target to win a majority of these 28 seats is ambitious after trailing in 26 of them. Shows confidence. Hope this political focus translates into actual work for the people living in these areas. Bengal needs stability and growth.
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