BJP-RSS Meet in Bengal Stresses Coordination Ahead of 2026 Polls

PTI, September 19, 2025, Kolkata :The West Bengal BJP wrapped up a marathon round of coordination meetings with the state unit of the RSS, seeking to chalk out its campaign blueprint and organizational strategy with eyes firmly on the 2026 assembly elections.

The two-day huddle, which began on Wednesday night, brought together the BJP's central and state leadership alongside senior RSS functionaries. BJP's General Secretary (Organization) BL Santosh led the deliberations, along with the party's state president Samik Bhattacharya and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Senior RSS functionaries and leaders of its various affiliates also attended the meeting.

The meeting focused on discussing a roadmap to consolidate the BJP's organization, expand its outreach, and resolve bottlenecks that have hampered its growth since the 2021 polls, party leaders said. The centenary celebrations of the RSS on Vijaya Dashami, which falls on October 2, were also discussed, in addition to politically sensitive issues such as the SIR and CAA.

"The focus was on coordination between the party and the RSS to ensure synergy ahead of the 2026 battle. The BJP does not want to leave anything to chance," a senior party leader said after the discussions ended on Thursday night.

Though there were speculations that the meeting would address the formation of a new state committee for the BJP, which appointed Bhattacharya as its West Bengal president in July, nothing regarding this was discussed. "It was a special coordination meeting. No discussion happened regarding the formation of the new state committee. It was not on the agenda of the meeting," another leader clarified.

The BJP's central leadership was reportedly keen on state leaders resolving their internal differences and ensuring the establishment of a functional team under Bhattacharya. Names of several leaders, including Ritesh Tiwari, Raju Banerjee, Sanjay Singh, Prabal Raha, Locket Chatterjee, and Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, are being considered for key organizational roles, according to party sources.

Shashi Agnihotri and Rupa Ganguly are being considered for leading the party's women's wing, while Tarunjyoti Tiwari and Suranjan Sarkar are among the possible picks for heading the youth wing, sources added. Ganguly had previously served as the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha in the state from 2015 to 2017.