BJP focuses on leadership accountability in West Bengal, linking membership drive success to 2026 election prospects.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has tightened the reins on senior leaders in West Bengal, expressing dissatisfaction over their sluggish performance in the ongoing membership drive. Sunil Bansal, BJP National General Secretary and in-charge of West Bengal, Telangana, and Odisha, recently criticised state leaders in a virtual meeting for failing to meet recruitment targets and gave them a strict warning to start working on the ground or be prepared for being sidelined.
According to sources, Bansal, known for his results-driven approach, was unimpressed with the explanations offered by local leaders, including claims of network issues affecting member enrolment via mobile calling. He reportedly countered by citing successful membership drives in Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur, where connectivity issues are known to be severe, underlining his expectation for leaders in West Bengal to overcome similar challenges.
The membership campaign, which was launched nationwide on September 2, began later in West Bengal due to what state leaders cited as the “political situation.”
Bansal conveyed a strict warning that poor performance in this drive would lead to consequences, regardless of the leader’s current standing within the party in a clear message to Members of Parliament and other leaders who hold positions in the organisation.
In a move to underscore the central leadership’s commitment, Bansal hinted that the outcome of the membership drive would directly influence ticket allocation for the 2026 Assembly elections.
BJP’s central leadership, including Home Minister Amit Shah, has reportedly been monitoring the party’s progress on the ground closely. In a meeting held at party president Jagat Prakash Nadda’s residence, Bansal was given a firm directive to bolster the party’s influence in West Bengal. The membership drive is seen as a crucial metric for BJP’s growth in the state, where it aims to consolidate its position following less than par results in recent elections.
During the virtual review meeting held on Wednesday, attended by BJP figures in prominent positions, including Mangal Pandey, Sukanta Majumdar, and Amit Malviya, Bansal emphasised the need for a thorough and committed approach to member recruitment, discouraging leaders from pursuing shortcuts. He also reminded leaders in West Bengal of his successes in Uttar Pradesh, stressing that their responsibility goes beyond fulfilling quotas and is crucial for the party’s broader goals in the state.
All district presidents, state organisation post holders, party Members of Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament were present in this meeting.
In a further escalation, each BJP-elected representative has been assigned specific recruitment targets, with a stark warning that failing to deliver will directly impact their candidacy in upcoming elections. The decision to shift towards stricter accountability by Bansal is being attributed to Shah’s belief that BJP would be well-positioned to form the government in the state in the May 2026 Assembly elections.