The central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is taking the upcoming by-elections for two Assembly seats in West Bengal very seriously. BJP president Amit Shah has sought a detailed report about the by-elections from the State unit of the party.
The by-elections for the Assembly segments Basirhat Dakshin and Chowringhee will take place on September 13.
“The party president has asked us to prepare a roadmap for the two by-elections and he wants to have a discussion with the State leadership to finalise it,” said BJP State president Rahul Sinha here on Monday.
Such an interest in West Bengal on part of BJP’s Central leadership has not been seen before, Mr. Sinha said adding that during earlier occasions the State BJP only submitted written and verbal reports to the Central leadership.
“As State president I am happy that the BJP’s Central leadership is completely focussed on Bengal,” said Mr. Sinha. He is scheduled to leave for Delhi on Wednesday for a discussion with the BJP President.
Interestingly, BJP’s State committee meeting is scheduled to be held in Siliguri on September 6 and 7. Mr. Shah is scheduled to address a rally there on September 7. Mr. Sinha said that it would be Mr. Shah’s first rally in the State after becoming party president.
Mr. Sinha had stressed that the new BJP president will “specially focus” on West Bengal with an eye on the 2016 Assembly polls in the State. He said the names of the BJP candidates for the two by-elections are likely to be announced by Wednesday.
