Taking cue from TMC, BJP to launch 'Speak to MLA' campaign in West Bengal

Under the programme, 'Bbidhayokke Bolo' (speak to your MLA), voters can directly register their grievances with their MLAs. Every MLA has been directed to attend to the complaints and initiative in finding solutions within 48 hours from the receipt of the complaints.

Kolkata (West Bengal):Followingthe footsteps ofthe Trinamool Congress (TMC), the West Bengal unit of the BJP has launched 'Bidhayokke Bolo' (speak to your MLA) to reach out to the people. The BJP central leadership has asked all its 75 legislators in the state to get dedicated WhatsApp numbers, where the voters can register their grievances with their MLAs. The scheme is the brainchild of Amit Malviya, the national-in-charge of the party’s IT cell as well as the central observer for West Bengal.

Confirming this development, BJP’s chief whip in the West Bengal Assembly Manoj Tigga said all 75 MLAs have been asked to start separate WhatsApp groups. "The voters of the respective constituencies can directly register their grievances with their MLAs. Every MLA has been directed to attend to the complaints and initiatives in finding solutions within 48 hours from the receipt of the complaints,” Tigga told ETV Bharat. Sources said the MLAs have been asked to ensure that these special WhatsApp numbers are adequately circulated in all pockets of his or her respective constituency.

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"We admitted that the TMC's Didike Bolo (speak to the elder sister) reaped electoral benefits for the party in the recently concluded Assembly elections. Now, we want our elected MLAs to concentrate on intense public relations exercises in their respective constituencies. So, we have decided to start the bidhayokke bolo (speak to your MLA) programme," a senior BJP leader said. At the same time, all the 75 elected BJP legislators have been directed to be present at the local party offices within their constituencies every Sunday to listen to the grievances of the people.

The 'Didike Bolo' campaign, which struck gold for the TMC, was launched by Mamata Banerjee following the advice of poll strategist Prashant Kishor.