The national leadership under the direct supervision of Amit Shah had decided to observe the day May 30 as “Seva Hi Sangathan Karyakram”, a pan India exercise. But this programme has miserably failed to enthuse the workers and cadres. Some senior state level leaders came out with the revelation that the central leaders of the party at no stage could establish a psychological connect with the state cadres and leaders. The leaders camping or visiting the state treated the local cadres as their personal staff. They were not treated as a dedicated cadre who had volunteered to work for party and ensure its victory.

These leaders also alleged that the central leaders were beyond the reach of the local cadres. They argue this has been basically against the political culture of the state. In Bengal irrespective of their political stature the leaders establish a personal connect with the small time cadres. The top leaders even have the detail information about the families of these cadres. But this was completely missing in case of the BJP during the recent Bengal assembly elections.

The leaders strongly believed in the money and muscle power. They spent huge money on hiring the strong man of a particular area. The people who managed to create aura around them benefitted financially. Though the cadres pretended to work hard during the elections, the fact was they did not come out openly. They were afraid that if something goes wrong with them the leaders would not come to their help. In many areas, the BJP workers slowed down the campaign work during the last three phases of polling.

What disheartened them most was the reliance of the leadership on anti- social elements. The BJP could not present itself as a cultured and sophisticated alternative to Trinamool Congress. Many anti-Trinamool voters got disgusted with the BJP campaign due to its show of financial and muscle power.

These leaders confide that some leaders have brought these facts to the knowledge of the central leaders. But they know that their appeal made no difference as the two leaders Narendra Modi and Amit Shah who have been primarily responsible for promoting this nature of politics would not entertain these flaws. Their accepting the flaws would amount to be self-censorship.

These cadres and leaders got further alienated from the party after the post poll violence raised its ugly head. These leaders do not pretend to hide behind the political façade and openly confess that the anti social elements who were hired just ahead of the poling were the first to resort to attacks. But on the second day the TMC goons retaliated in a strong way and did not allow much space to the BJP goons. It was after this the BJP leaders raised the bogey of TMC violence against the BJP workers. The situation might not have deteriorated to this extent if the BJP goons would have been controlled in the areas where the BJP won.

According to sources in the party, large sections of workers got disillusioned. They had joined the party with the genuine desire to defeat the TMC. But the nasty campaign and humiliation of Mamata Banerjee by Modi and Amit Shah alienated even many of the middle class pro-BJP voters. The floating voters who were critical in marginal seats, went against the BJP in the last moment and led to the defeat of the BJP candidates.

Already the Trinamool leaders and workers who left Mamata in the last two months, are approaching the Trinamool leaders for taking them back again. Many of them have sent personal letters to Mamata and some others have approached through the local TMC leaders. The biggest shock has been struck by Subhransu Roy, son of top BJP leader Mukul Roy. Subhransu is the youth face of the party and has also contested the assembly election on BJP ticket. But on Sunday he heaped huge praise on his former TMC colleagues. This has given rise to wide speculation and scepticism in the BJP about the future role of Mukul and Subhransu. In fact after taking the oath as the member of assembly, Mukul Roy has been maintaining distance from the leaders who present themselves as the blue eyed boys of Modi and Shah.

The recent arrest of four leaders, particularly of Subrata Mukherjee has not gone well down the BJP rank and file. In the past also many top TMC leaders were arrested but it did not have much impact on the psychology or the emotions of the people. People felt happy that scamsters and wrongdoers were arrested. But the recent arrests are being seen completely in a different perspective. The way Modi and Shah tried to humiliate Mamata has completely changed the public perception. While they are protecting the two primary scamsters, Mukul Roy and Subhendu Adhikari, notwithstanding of their being the key figures, they are out to frame close associates of Mamata.

This action has turned Modi and Shah suspect in the eyes of common people of the state.. Basically this is the reason that the general cadres and leaders are not too keen to participate in the 7 year celebration programme. The party has been struggling to execute the image makeover programme as large sections of BJP workers are not feeling enthused. For Bengal BJP, its hope of a golden future in the wake of its big victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is dashed now. The state party is now facing the herculean task of retaining the party workers in its fold- the question of expansion does not arise. For state BJP, the coming period is tough and uncertain. (IPA Service)