BJP to hold 2k street corner meetings in Kolkata to woo Bhadralok

BJP has decided to further boost its election campaign in West Bengal with plans of holding around 2000 potho (street corner) sabhas in the 40 seats located in the greater Kolkata area to reach out to the voters. These meetings will be addressed by senior BJP leaders with Home Minister Amit Shah kicking off the campaign on Tuesday evening.

In addition to the numerous election rallies and roadshows already in the pipeline, BJP will up the ante through these street corner meetings in the remaining four phases of the West Bengal elections. These small public meetings will be organised in the presidency area of Kolkata.

BJP sources said the aim is to influence the Bengali bhadralok through these potho sabhas. The saffron party will rake the issue of “decline” of Kolkata, once known for its contribution to literature, spirituality, music and cinema as well as social movements like banning of Sati and legalising widow remarriage.


“Kolkata has been the home ground for many significant movements in India's history. However, due to the neglect by state governments of the past, the city and its people have been facing many issues on multiple fronts such as crumbling infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, lack of economic growth and growing concerns around safety of women, among others,” a BJP leader said, adding that the city needs to be revived.

BJP will organise around 2000 potho sabhas in over 40 Assembly seats in and around Kolkata. National and state leaders of the party will reach out to various communities residing in Kolkata to share with them BJP’s vision for Kolkata in specific and the state in general, party sources said. These meetings will be organised in the evenings. Shah will hold the inaugural meeting on April 13 (Tuesday) in Dum Dum, followed by another in Baranagar assembly constituency, in the evening.