In a first-of-its-kind initiative for the state unit, West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party president Samik Bhattacharya is set to begin holding a weekly ‘Darbar’ from Wednesday, September 3, at the party’s old headquarters on 6 Muralidhar Sen Lane.
Although the BJP’s main state office shifted to Sector V, Bidhannagar, some years ago, the Muralidhar Sen Lane address continues to be officially registered as the state headquarters. Despite ongoing renovations at the old building — where major repairs are still underway — a space has been readied amidst construction materials for Bhattacharya to meet party workers directly.
According to the BJP’s announcement on social media, the state president will be present at the old headquarters from 3 pm to hear grievances, suggestions, and complaints from workers across the state. Both open meetings and private discussions have been arranged for the new initiative.
The move marks the first time the state BJP has introduced a formal platform where ordinary workers can speak directly to the president without going through district or mandal leaders. Party insiders said Bhattacharya aims to bridge the gap between the grassroots and the leadership, breaking the long-standing practice where leaders’ complaints against workers reached the top easily, but workers’ grievances against leaders often remained unheard.
Internal dissent within the state BJP has frequently spilled into the open, particularly after announcements of district presidents or committee formations. Protests were seen in several districts this year and in South Kolkata, even the organisational president faced physical attacks from disgruntled workers. Allegations of sidelining sections of workers have also persisted.
Party sources said the new ‘Darbar’ initiative is designed to address such discontent, offering workers a channel to voice their concerns directly to Bhattacharya.
Ahead of the launch, senior leader and former state general secretary Pratap Banerjee visited the old office to coordinate arrangements, including designating separate rooms for group discussions and one-on-one meetings.
While some leaders had earlier indicated the program would start on September 1, doubts arose due to the delay in forming the new state committee and incomplete renovation works. As a result, earlier social media announcements were withdrawn. This time, however, the BJP has formally confirmed the start date of September 3 through its official platforms.
“The introduction of the initiative signals a new approach to party-worker engagement in Bengal BJP politics. By instituting a weekly platform for dialogue, Bhattacharya seeks to strengthen the organisation ahead of upcoming elections and reassure the cadre that their voices will not be ignored,” said a senior BJP leader.
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