BJP preparing blueprint for 2021 West Bengal polls
Kolkata: Buoyed by its stupendous victory in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is preparing a blueprint, which includes putting in place a check and balance mechanism to induct TMC leaders and strengthening its grassroot level organisation, to win "at least 250 seats" in the state assembly elections.
The saffron party won 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in the recently-concluded parliamentary polls, only four less than the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress's 22. Election to the 294-member state assembly is scheduled to be held in 2021.
Emerging as a party fighting for the cause of Bengalis to counter the TMC's issue of Bengali pride, the BJP will give weightage to industrialisation to create jobs and implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, if voted to power.
The ruling TMC in West Bengal, however, did not give much importance to the BJP's plans and asserted it will bounce back to power in 2021, saying the saffron party's dream of coming to power in the state will fall flat.
The BJP recorded a staggering 40.5 per cent vote share in the general elections and at present, has six assembly seats of the state in its pocket.
"For the Lok Sabha polls, we had set a target of 23 Lok Sabha seats, and won 18. Now, our new target is 250 seats in the state (assembly). We will prepare our poll strategy and work towards achieving this target," BJP national general secretary and West Bengal in-charge, Kailash Vijayvargiya, told PTI.
The Lok Sabha poll results have indicated a tectonic shift in Bengal politics, with the BJP emerging as a key player and successfully tilting the political equation in its favour by eclipsing the ruling TMC and opposition Congress and CPI (M).
TMC's seat tally dropped from 34 in 2014 to 22 in this general elections, and the Congress's from four to two.The CPI (M) failed to open its account.
BJP sources said in consultation with the central leadership, the party's state unit is drawing up a strategy to ensure its victory in the assembly polls.
"For the time being, induction of TMC leaders into the party, especially MLAs and senior leaders, would be put on hold.We would bring in a crosscheck mechanism into place before inducting TMC leaders in the party.
"Only those who are good leaders with good public image and organisational skills will be inducted into the BJP," a senior central BJP leader privy to the development told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
This decision has been taken in the backdrop of protests over TMC MLA Manirul Islam joining the party.His induction has sent out a wrong message to the masses and "we want to emerge as a better alternative and not as a replica of the TMC", the leader said.
The BJP's West Bengal unit has been divided over Islam's induction into the party, as a section feels that people like him will bring bad repute to it in the state, where the party is trying to oust the TMC government.
In the wake of protests in the party, he offered to resign. The BJP has also decided to revamp the organisation to bring better organisers and political workers into the fold.
"We would revamp the party organisation in districts and areas where we are weak. In districts and local areas where leaders were earlier appointed just for the sake of appointment would be removed with good and efficient persons. But old timers who are good organisers and leaders would be kept in the new committees," Vijayvargiya said.
The party has also decided to categorise assembly segments as "A, B, C and D" based on the performance in the seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
"The 130 seats where we have taken a lead would fall under category 'A' and the 65 seats where we are in the close second position would fall under category 'B'.
"The rest of the seats where we are second with a distant margin would fall under the 'C' category and the seats where we are third would fall under 'D' category," a source in the BJP said.
The party will increase its political activity in the entire state and reach out to the masses. But special focus will be on seats categorised as "A, B and C", a senior BJP leader said.
"We will work towards ensuring victory in seats in these three categories," the leader said. The party has also decided to prepare a roadmap based on state and constituency-wise issues.
"For example industry would be a major poll plank in the state especially in areas like Singur, where Tata Motors couldn't complete its factory due to the TMC's negative politics," a BJP leader said.
In border areas and districts, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to grant citizenship to refugees and NRC to weed out infiltrators will be major poll planks, the leader said.
"Similarly, in various districts there are some specific issues related to agriculture, industries, so we would identify them and work towards it," a BJP leader said.
The 18 MPs, six MLAs and the municipalities that have been taken over the party should act as model of development and good governance to inspire confidence about BJP among the masses, a BJP source said.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
