Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP launched initiatives targeting women in Sandeshkhali but the party has been struggling with its membership drive. This issue extends to the entire Basirhat subdivision, where most of the 31 mandals failed to meet their target of 10,500 members, signing up only 2,000 to 3,000. Sandeshkhali, once a key focus, has seen a sharp decline in enthusiasm.
Internal issues, including leader apathy, poor Lok Sabha results, factionalism and dissatisfaction with candidate selection, have led to low renewal rates. Of the district’s target of over 3 lakh members, the BJP has reportedly enrolled just 70,000, with some estimates below 50,000.
