Odisha Leaders, Social Activists Throng West Bengal To Canvas For BJP
Odisha leaders have been strategically deployed in constituencies with a sizeable Odia-speaking population, particularly in districts bordering Odisha and industrial belts where migrant workers from the state reside in large numbers: Party sources
BHUBANESWAR: Top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Odisha, including state president Manmohan Samal, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, minister Krushna Chandra Patra and party leader Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo, have intensified their campaign in West Bengal to mobilise support for BJP candidates in the ongoing Assembly elections.
According to party sources, Odisha leaders have been strategically deployed in constituencies with a sizeable Odia-speaking population, particularly in districts bordering Odisha and industrial belts where migrant workers from the state reside in large numbers. The BJP believes this demographic could play a decisive role in closely contested seats.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who had earlier campaigned during the first phase, is scheduled to visit West Bengal again for a two-day tour starting Sunday. During his visit, he is expected to address multiple public meetings and roadshows, focusing on outreach among Odia voters and highlighting the BJP’s governance model in Odisha.
“West Bengal has lakhs of Odia population. This time they have made up their mind to vote for the BJP, and we believe the Trinamool government headed by Mamata Banerjee will be out of power on May 4 when the counting takes place,” Samal told this newspaper on Saturday.
Party functionaries said that apart from political leaders, several Odia social activists, cultural figures and community organisers have also joined the campaign trail, holding small group meetings, door-to-door outreach programmes and community interactions to consolidate support.
Jitendra Biswal, a representative of the Odisha BJP chief, informed that leaders from the state have addressed over 100 large and small gatherings across West Bengal so far. “The response from Odia voters has been encouraging. We are focusing on direct engagement to ensure maximum turnout in favour of the BJP,” he said.
Political observers note that such cross-state mobilisation reflects the BJP’s broader strategy of leveraging linguistic and cultural connections to expand its electoral footprint beyond traditional strongholds.
