Targeting '80% Hindus': No screening—anyone can join! Who is the target of Bansal's message?

Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: There has been intense discussion in state politics over the past few days regarding what exactly constitutes the "good Trinamool." Hot on the heels of BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya's remarks on this subject, Sunil Bansal—the Bengal BJP's central observer and All-India General Secretary—has taken the stance on party recruitment a step further. His clear directive is that there should be no screening or selectivity when it comes to joining the BJP; anyone is welcome to join, even if their motives are self-serving. However, once they join, it becomes the organization's responsibility to mold them according to BJP ideology. At the same time, reiterating the party's core objective, he stated clearly that their mission is to organize the "80 percent Hindu" demographic. Although he did not explicitly name the Trinamool Congress, political circles believe that by outlining the party's direction to its leaders, he effectively signaled that the door remains open for Trinamool members as well.

On Sunday, the BJP organized the 'Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Training Maha-Abhiyan' (Grand Training Campaign) at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town. Top-tier leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and State President Samik Bhattacharya, were present at the event. It was here that Sunil Bansal delivered this message to the party's leaders and workers.

Addressing the party workers and cadres, the central observer noted that while working, questions often arise regarding why they are in the BJP or what work they are actually doing. Turning to the issue of recruitment, he remarked that people from all walks of life would naturally approach the party. He emphasized that sending signals to workers about who should or should not be admitted is inappropriate. The party organization must be robust enough so that anyone joining can seamlessly integrate with BJP ideology and work collectively.

Bansal effectively acknowledged that many join the BJP to further their personal interests or gain personal benefits. However, he sees no issue with this, stating that it is perfectly acceptable for someone to join out of self-interest or in the hope of gaining something. Regardless of their initial mindset, the organization's true responsibility is to mold the individual—through the process of working within the party—into someone who embraces and upholds the party's ideology throughout their life.

Sunil Bansal sparked a debate by reiterating the party's core objective. He stated that they were not here to organize just a handful of people, but to mobilize the 80 percent Hindu population. Their primary goal is to bring every single Hindu into the party fold; consequently, there is no need to be selective about who joins. It is this policy of inclusive organization that has enabled the BJP to amass a membership of 180 million across the country. His final message to party workers was that, whoever joins the party, the real task lies in transforming them into a capable cadre or worker.