The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) West Bengal unit is ramping up its preparations for the 2026 assembly elections by sending full-time workers, known as “vistaraks,” to all 294 constituencies across the state.
If things stay on track, the party plans to deploy these vistaraks to every constituency by the end of September. Once they complete initial training, they’ll hit the ground running, gathering real-time insights on local politics, social issues, and community dynamics.
This hands-on feedback will help BJP leaders craft targeted campaign strategies and finalize poll plans for each area. The party already has an initial list of about 500 potential candidates under review. From that pool, they’ll select 294 vistaraks—one for each constituency.
These candidates include a mix of seasoned pros who’ve served as vistaraks before and fresh faces eager to join. To make the cut, applicants must meet key criteria: They need to be registered voters in their assigned constituency and possess solid knowledge of its social fabric, geography, politics, and demographic breakdowns by caste and religion.
BJP leaders favor graduates with a strong grasp of the party’s history. Plus, anyone with a proven track record as a vistarak gets a big edge in the selection process.
State BJP vice-president Rathindranath Bose explained that while the party has used vistaraks in West Bengal before major elections, this round involves a more thorough vetting to ensure top-notch picks. “We’re starting early because our central leadership wants to make the most of these workers’ roles,” he said.
This early push signals BJP’s determination to build a strong grassroots presence ahead of the high-stakes 2026 West Bengal assembly elections.
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