Kolkata: Bengal BJP has launched back-to-back workshops to train party workers ahead of counting day on May 4, with Union home minister Amit Shah calling state netas to assess preparedness and Bengal BJP minder Sunil Bansal holding meetings with specialised functional units on Thursday.Bansal, widely credited with building the party’s present organisational network, told workers there would be no violence this time and that counting day operations must run with “clockwork precision.” Workshops for workers are scheduled over the next two days.Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya dismissed CM Mamata Banerjee’s strong room vigilance calls as a sign of weakness rather than strength. “Her apprehension has actually stemmed from the absence of Trinamool workers in a number of booths this time,” he said.He also predicted that Banerjee would claim vote theft after the results. “Their plot is ready. After the results are out, you may even hear from her that BJP has stolen votes,” Bhattacharya said.The counting-day focus reflects lessons drawn from 2021, when a weak organisation and allegations of violence on counting day cost the party. Over the past year, state netas have held 1.65 lakh small “chatai meetings” with workers and voters to build ground-level strength, followed by nearly 12,000 street corner meetings to maintain active worker presence.Internal coordination — long a weakness, with Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar frequently speaking in different voices — has also been a focus. “The coordination was ensured through regular meetings between top state netas, making the party work as a cohesive group. This was reflected in the Brigade rally, which saw an unexpected turnout,” said a state BJP senior.
