BJP central observers discuss ways to rejuvenate party in Bengal

Amid growing factionalism within the Bengal BJP, central election observer and Union minister Bhupender Yadav has sought a detailed list of capable RSS and BJP leaders who have reportedly withdrawn from active political engagement in the state.

The move follows mounting concerns in Delhi over the party’s declining performance since its historic 2019 Lok Sabha success, when it won 18 of Bengal’s 42 seats. Party insiders allege that internal mismanagement and interference by certain central observers alienated several skilled grassroots workers. Even former state president Tathagata Roy has repeatedly accused a senior central observer of weakening the state unit, naming him in multiple media statements.

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BJP leaders from Bengal have reportedly complained in Delhi that a senior leader stationed in Kolkata and his loyal aides have contributed to organizational collapse. Documents related to alleged corruption by some leaders have also been submitted to both national president JP Nadda and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, sources said. The worsening factionalism has alarmed Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda, who have expressed concern over the deepening divisions in the Bengal unit.

With the 2026 Assembly polls now BJP’s key focus, Yadav and co-observer Biplab Deb arrived in Kolkata today to review the state unit’s preparedness. They held a high-level meeting at the party’s Salt Lake headquarters with senior leaders, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, state president Shamik Bhattacharya, and former president Sukanta Majumdar. According to party sources, discussions covered strategies related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the recent north Bengal disaster, and the party’s plan to launch agitation over the state government’s alleged failure to prevent the tragedy. The meeting marked the BJP’s first post-Durga Puja push toward the 2026 campaign.

“The festival season is over, and it’s now time to hit the ground,” a senior leader said. The BJP’s central leadership is expected to roll out continuous outreach programmes through October and November, followed by intensified campaigning from January onward. In recent months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have visited Bengal multiple times, underlining the state’s political importance. The BJP, sources indicated, aims to rebuild its lost organisational strength and reconnect with workers who had distanced themselves due to factional disputes.

In 2019, BJP led in 121 Assembly segments based on Lok Sabha results, winning 77 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it was ahead in 90 segments. Whether the party can regain lost ground in 2026 remains to be seen.