- BJP and CPM have declared new strategies to attract women voters in West Bengal
- Women voters have predominantly voted for the Trinamool Congress ever since the 2021 Assembly elections
- BJP's strategy involves physical reach, organisational build-up, and sector-specific targeted campaigning
The BJP and CPM have drawn up new schemes to win back women voters in West Bengal who have overwhelmingly backed the Trinamool Congress after the Assembly elections of 2021.
While the BJP is focusing on physical mobilization at the mass level, organizational amalgamation and issue-based campaigns, the CPM is betting largely on digital mobilization to raise awareness on women's rights, safety and development.
Women comprise nearly 49 percent of the total electorate of 7.63 crore in Bengal, consisting of 3.76 crore women and 3.87 crore men.
The BJP Mahila Morcha has organized to create units of 50 women workers in every mandal (nearly 1,300 units in the state). These units will conduct round-the-clock door-to-door campaigns, highlighting women's crimes and blaming the Mamata Banerjee government for its inability to provide women's security.
On Monday, the Bengal unit of Mahila Morcha organized a Nari Shakti Sammelan (Women Empowerment Conference) at the National Library in Kolkata, during which BJP Bengal minder Sunil Bansal highlighted the safety of women as the top priority of the party. He also declared one lakh women's rally in Kolkata.
Phalguni Patra, president of the Mahila Morcha of the state, added that the party would approach women from all walks of life — self-help group members, homemakers, students, young working women, and mothers — to garner support.
BJP sources concede the strategy is essential as the latest surveys show more than 55 percent of women voters in Bengal support Trinamool. Yet, they also agree that there are problems in Muslim-majority areas where the party is weak organisationalally.
CPM's Approach
Conversely, CPM has also initiated its Meyeder Brigade (Women's Brigade), inviting women from all over Bengal to join through QR codes. The campaign aims at mobilizing women for security, rights, and education.
CPM leaders like Minakshi Mukherjee and Md Salim quoted National Crime Records Bureau data to point out increasing crimes against women in Bengal, such as child marriage and dowry deaths. "The situation in Bengal is horrific, and it is on par with BJP-led states," Minakshi asserted, vowing to take up women's rights and justice.
Trinamool's Response
The Trinamool Congress rejected both campaigns. Party spokesman Arup Chakraborty stated Bengal's women have faith in Mamata Banerjee's track record.
"Trinamool is the sole party to keep the maximum number of seats reserved for women in Parliament and the Assembly. Mamata Banerjee's schemes of welfare are reflective of her concern for women empowerment," he contended.
