The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is adopting a more systematic approach to selecting potential candidates for the next Assembly elections, with a clear focus on grassroots leaders rather than celebrities, particularly from the film industry.
A member of the BJP’s state committee said the shift follows lessons learnt from the 2021 Assembly elections, when several well-known personalities were fielded as candidates.
“Many celebrities joined the party ahead of the 2021 elections and were given tickets. After they lost, most of them distanced themselves from the party, with several immediately joining the ruling Trinamul Congress,” the leader said.
He added that this time the process of shortlisting names for recommendation to the party’s central leadership is being carried out quietly and in a more organised manner, without publicity.
The state unit plans to submit two separate lists for each of the 294 Assembly constituencies. One list will contain three preferred candidates, while the second will include three names not recommended for candidature.
The party may also attach brief explanatory notes to both lists. However, the state leader said the final decision will rest with the BJP high command.
At the same time, the Bengal BJP is seeking to assess public sentiment ahead of the elections and before finalising its manifesto.
Last week, the party launched the ‘Sankalp Patra Paramarsha Yatra’ (Manifesto Consultation Drive). As part of the programme, suggestion drop boxes will be placed at 1,000 locations across West Bengal to gather public feedback for the manifesto.