**Kolkata:** Soon after Durga Puja concluded, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have begun their preparations for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for next year.
BJP’s central leaders, including Bhupendra Yadav and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb, visited Kolkata on Friday to hold meetings with the state leadership. According to party sources, a meeting took place at the BJP office involving Yadav, Deb, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, MoS Sukanta Majumdar, and other senior leaders.
“The central leaders are likely to meet again with the state leadership on Saturday. They will provide directions and chart out the roadmap in the run-up to next year’s elections. The saffron camp is expected to hit the streets, likely starting from next week,” said party sources.
BJP MP and MoS Sukanta Majumdar commented on the visit, stating, “They have come here because they have been given the responsibility for the elections. We had other commitments during Durga Puja, so the meeting could not take place earlier. We will definitely work as a team and aim to oust Mamata Banerjee’s government.”
On the other hand, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh dismissed the BJP central leaders’ visit as a mere gathering of “migratory birds.”
Meanwhile, the ruling TMC is also gearing up for the elections. After TMC national secretary Abhishek Banerjee shortlisted 50 party leaders, and the list received approval, the party plans to hold ‘Bijoya Sammelani’ events at every booth level starting from October 5. During these gatherings, the selected speakers will address the public.
The approved speakers’ list includes various TMC MPs, MLAs, ministers, youth leaders, and other prominent figures, aiming to strengthen the party’s outreach ahead of the polls.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/bjp-tmc-kickstart-election-preparations-in-bengal-soon-after-durga-puja