RSS carried out major voter outreach campaign in Bengal, sources say
RSS sources claimed the organisation carried out extensive voter awareness campaigns and grassroots outreach across West Bengal ahead of the Assembly polls. BJP leaders acknowledged the contribution of RSS volunteers, saying they helped strengthen the party’s strategy and voter connect
New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) carried out large-scale voter awareness campaigns across West Bengal during the run-up to the Assembly polls, while its volunteers held lakhs of small group meetings with people in every nook and corner of the state, urging them to cast their votes without fear this time.
According to sources, RSS swayamsevaks (volunteers) also kept their ears to the ground and gave “valuable feedback” to the BJP on the “people’s pulse” and the “rival’s moves” to help the party fine-tune its poll strategy.
“They really worked very hard,” a senior BJP leader told PTI, acknowledging the contribution of RSS volunteers to the party’s success in breaching the Mamata Banerjee-led ruling TMC’s stronghold in West Bengal.
While the counting of votes was still underway, the latest trends indicated that the BJP was poised to defeat the ruling TMC in West Bengal, with its candidates winning seven seats and leading in 204 seats in the 294-member Legislative Assembly as of 6 pm on Monday.
“More than a moment of joy and happiness, it is a very emotional moment for us. It will now pave the way to end 100 years of suffering in the state,” a source in the RSS told PTI while reacting to the counting trends.
With the formation of a BJP government, West Bengal will start moving on the path of progress and reclaim its “lost glory”, the source added.
“We worked round the clock on the ground and reached out to people with our message. The BJP also worked hard to achieve this success,” he said, adding that party and Sangh volunteers worked in proper coordination at all levels.
During the elections, RSS workers carried out large-scale voter awareness campaigns and also held nearly two lakh meetings with people in small groups across the state, the sources said.
“During these meetings, people were made aware of poll issues and urged to vote without any fear. They were assured of their safety,” a source said.
According to the sources, the BJP began strengthening and expanding its base in West Bengal soon after the 2021 state polls, in which the party emerged as the main opposition with its tally rising to 77 seats from three in 2016.
The RSS also began creating a favourable ground for the BJP’s next political push soon after the 2021 Assembly polls in the state.
“Several workers were killed in the post-poll violence in West Bengal after the TMC’s victory in 2021. But we did not stop. We continued our work,” another RSS source told PTI.
“We stood by the victims of the post-poll violence and did everything possible to help them get relief. We helped them get legal counselling, compensation and rebuild their houses, which were set on fire or damaged during the post-poll violence. We also cared for their livelihood,” the source added.
The sources said the RSS intensified its public outreach efforts and gradually expanded its base in West Bengal over the past five years by standing with people on local issues.
“RSS workers gave strength to Sandeshkhali victims and helped them get legal assistance,” a source said.
