A BITTER REARGUARD BATTLE
In August, the West Bengal unit of the BJP set in motion a month-long outreach programme to rejuvenate its cadre after a demoralising assembly election defeat. Sebayi Sangathan (our organisation means service) was aimed at creating goodwill through social welfare activities, but the sudden and precipitous decline in manpower has made it hard to get the show on the road. The BJP had hoped to engage some 160,000 booth-level workers across the state, but barely 3,000 showed up.
More proof of the prevailing despondency came at the party meetings held on August 24-25 in Kolkata and Durgapur to review organisational strength. presidents from several districts admitted in the presence of the national joint general secretary (organisation) Shivprakash that the party cadre was disenchanted with president from South 24 Parganas, requesting anonymity.
