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BJP Bengal Leaders to Meet Nitin Nabin Over Civic Polls
BJP leaders from West Bengal are going to meet their national president in Delhi.
They will discuss elections for city governments in Kolkata, Howrah and six other places.
The party wants its government, local leaders and grassroots workers to work closely together.
The elections are expected to be completed by December 7.
The BJP has created separate teams to prepare for the Kolkata and Howrah contests.
Sukanta Majumdar is managing the Kolkata campaign, while Rahul Sinha is overseeing Howrah.
The party’s state president says the BJP can fight these elections on its own.
However, the central leadership will make the final decision about any alliance.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya are scheduled to meet BJP national president Nitin Nabin in Delhi.
The meeting will focus on civic poll preparations, government-organisation coordination and other issues.
Elections to Kolkata, Howrah and six other civic bodies are scheduled to be completed by December 7.
The BJP has formed separate committees for Kolkata and Howrah, led by Sukanta Majumdar and Rahul Sinha respectively.
Samik Bhattacharya has backed contesting the civic polls independently, while the final alliance decision rests with the central leadership.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and BJP national president Nitin Nabin, with other BJP leaders expected to attend.
- What
- A meeting to discuss civic poll preparations, government-organisation coordination and possible candidate-selection principles.
- Where
- The meeting will take place in Delhi; the elections concern Kolkata, Howrah and six other civic bodies in West Bengal.
- When
- Thursday evening, September 24; the civic elections are to be completed by December 7.
- Why
- The BJP is preparing for its first major urban electoral test after taking power in West Bengal and wants to improve coordination between the government, party organisation and grassroots workers.
Independent Contest
Central Alliance Decision
Seat-sharing strategy
Independent Contest
Samik Bhattacharya has said the BJP is capable of contesting the Kolkata and Howrah civic polls on its own strength and ruled out an immediate state-level seat-sharing arrangement with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
Central Alliance Decision
Bhattacharya has also said that the final decision on alliances rests with the BJP’s central leadership, leaving open the possibility of a decision from the national party.
Key facts
- Meeting location
- Delhi
- Civic election deadline
- December 7
- Civic bodies involved
- Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations plus six other civic bodies
- Electoral roll
- The elections will use the roll published on July 1
- Kolkata election lead
- Union minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar
- Howrah election lead
- Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Sinha
- Proposed ward changes
- Kolkata may increase from 144 to 209 wards, while Howrah may rise from 50 to 68
Quotes
A senior state BJP leader
A senior leader of the West Bengal BJP
“The party’s approach also reflects a broader transition — from fighting as an opposition force for more than a decade to managing the responsibilities of government while simultaneously expanding its organisational footprint.”
theprint.in
Sources
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