Bengal BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Shamik Bhattacharya be at the driving seat of the car. However, the engine of the car will be controlled by the central leadership. In other words, the reigns of the BJP in Bengal will be in the hands of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and leaders from other states responsible for the Bengal election work. This is the message that the party’s All India President JP Nadda gave to the state BJP leaders at the party meeting after visiting West Bengal.
According to BJP sources, several leaders from other states have already been sent to Bengal. They have been given the responsibility of 43 organisational districts. The work of the leaders from other states is to prepare for the elections in coordination with the organisational district presidents. The meeting that Nadda held in Salt Lake on Thursday was attended by leaders from other states along with the district presidents. BJP sources revealed that Nadda said in the meeting, “The car will run but leaders from other states will work as the engine.”
Bengali people fail to connect with BJP leaders delivering speech in Hindi
During the last assembly elections, Modi-Shah sent leaders from other states to Bengal with responsibility. Although the results in that election were not as expected. According to political observers, the people of West Bengal did not accept the presence of central leaders so much. Their speeches in Hindi at various meetings and rallies failed to make a mark on the people. Because they are not connected to the tradition and culture of Bengal and Hindi is almost hardly spoken in the state.
Recently, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, BJP MP from Tamluk, opened up about this issue. He expressed his ‘discontent’ with the ‘dominance of non-Bengali BJP leadership’ in Bengal. Claiming that the thinking of the people of West Bengal does not match with that of North India, he said, “You cannot bring leaders from the Hindi heartland here to vote.” He said sarcastically, “The minds, moods, and arrogance of the people of West Bengal are not understood by the leaders from Delhi.”
Abhijit is known to be close to the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu in state politics. A section of the BJP believes that Suvendu was responsible for bringing former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit into the party and his candidacy from Tamluk. There were also questions within the party about whether Suvendu was instigating Abhijit’s comments about the central leadership. This is because the opposition leader was not seen directly opposing Abhijit’s comments.
Leaders from other states will not give speech in Hindi in Bengal: JP Nadda
However, in Thursday’s meeting, Nadda also discussed the mistakes that were made in the preparation for the last assembly elections. According to BJP sources, Nadda has made it clear that the job of leaders from other states is not to come on the BJP stage and give speech in Hindi. They will remain behind the curtains and continue to do the election work from behind. They will review the shortcomings in the district organisation and discuss them with the district leadership. Nadda also said that the central leadership will have to send a report on this matter from time to time.
According to BJP sources, Nadda has given strict instructions to leaders from other states that they should not hurt the sentiments of Bengalis in any way. They should refrain from giving controversial speeches. Nadda said in the meeting, “Your job is only to work. You are just associates. Don’t just give speeches, work. You cannot go to any meeting and wear a garland.”