'Copycat' BJP launches outreach programme in Bengal

February 17, 2020 13:03

Taking cue from TMC's 'Didi ke Bolo' (Tell Didi) mass outreach programme, the West Bengal BJP is mulling to launch 'BJP ke bolo' (Tell BJP) initiative before the upcoming municipal elections in the state. The BJP leaders, however, denied that the initiative -- that is expected to be launched in a few days -- is meant to outsmart the TMC's programme and insisted it is aimed at inquiring about people's grievances against TMC-run civic bodies and understanding their needs and demands.

The elections to 107 municipalities and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to be held this year, are being dubbed as 'mini assembly elections' ahead of the 2021 polls.

As part of the 'BJP ke Bolo' initiative, a helpline number will be launched wherein people will be able to call and register their grievances and if the saffron party is elected to the civic bodies, it will try to solve the problems, a senior party leader said.

"First, a pilot project will be launched wherein only BJP workers in the 107 municipalities will be asked to register feedback of the masses. Later, a statewide toll free number will be launched for the people," he said.

This initiative will increase the party's direct mass outreach and help it identify issues in the civic bodies, the BJP leader said. 'BJP ke Bolo' will be the second mass outreach programme of the party in the state. It had earlier launched 'Cha chakra Dilipdar sange' (Discussions with Dilip da over tea) in which West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had visited various areas in the state and discussed with people issues faced by them. The initiative had received positive response from the people, the BJP leader said. Reacting to the development, TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee alleged that the saffron party was trying to copy the Trinamool Congress' initiative.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Meet Baldev Kumar from Punjab, first outsider to contest J-K LS polls

The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 paved the way for outsiders to contest polls in the Union Territory.

IPL PIX: Rahul, de Kock power LSG to easy win over CSK

Openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock hit fifties as LSG trounced CSK by eight wickets.

Phase 1 sees nearly 63% polling amid stray incidents of violence

"The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations are obtained as polling is scheduled till 6 pm in many constituencies. Final figures will be known on Saturday after the scrutiny of form 17A," the EC...

Manipur records 68% polling marred by violence, firing, booth capturing

At Thamnapokpi under Moirang constituency in Bishnupur district, armed men fired several rounds in the air near a polling booth prompting voters to flee, police said on Friday, adding additional security personnel were rushed to the spot...

Air India to soon have new crew management system

Air India will soon have a new crew management system that will help strengthen rostering rules and enable faster recovery from scheduled disruptions. In a message to the staff on Friday, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said that...