New BJP Chief Nitin Nabin Invokes Vivekananda's 'Arise And Awake' Message As He Begins Bengal Visit

The BJP’s new national president, Nitin Nabin began his West Bengal visit on a positive note by invoking the state’s Renaissance icons like Swami Vivekananda,  whose “arise and awake” message he used to reach out to Gen Z.

Encouraging cultural outreach programmes, Nabin said Bengal must move forward to help realise the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He inaugurated the ‘Kamal Mela’, showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage and indirectly under the aegis of the BJP, at Rajiv Gandhi Smarak Maidan (Chitralaya Ground) in Durgapur.

“We are deeply dedicated to West Bengal. We will always remain concerned about the progress of Bengal’s youth and women so that they continue to move forward. The culture of West Bengal holds a unique and special place

in our country. On this day, I bow to the people of Bengal, who through Maa Durga have bound the entire nation together in one sacred thread,” Nabin said, while addressing the gathering.

He added: “Swamiji (referring to Swami Vivekananda) said one must keep moving forward until the goal is achieved. I urge the youth to continue their efforts until their goals are fulfilled. If we truly wish to build a developed India by 2047, the contribution of today’s youth will be the most significant.”

This is Nabin’s first visit to West Bengal after assuming charge as the BJP’s national president, and is being seen as a major boost for the party’s state leadership ahead of the upcoming assembly election. Senior BJP leaders from across the state were present at Andal Airport in Durgapur to receive him, including state president Samik Bhattacharya, Sukanta Majumdar, and Suvendu Adhikari.

Local supporters showed high enthusiasm as he arrived in Bengal, welcoming him with traditional dhak beats and drums, reflecting the cultural fervour of the region. Following the Kamal Mela, he held closed-door meetings with local party leaders to assess the organisational ground reality.

‘ADOPT MAN-TO-MAN MARKING APPROACH’

According to sources, Nabin appeared confident and optimistic about the BJP’s prospects in Bengal. His message during the first internal meeting was clear and strategic, as he called for a fight to reclaim the state’s lost pride in response to the politics of “Bengali identity” and said the party is finalising its roadmap for the elections after closely studying the post-mortem report of the 2021 defeat, sources in the BJP said.

The sources said he directed the organisation to adopt a “man-to-man marking” approach to counter the TMC’s campaign tactics and stressed that local issues must be given far greater importance while planning election strategy. Keeping in mind the diversity of voters across West Bengal, he said leadership responsibilities would be assigned on a district-wise or assembly constituency-wise basis, they said.

They said Nabin further announced that organisational performance will be reviewed every 15 days. These directions emerged from the BJP core committee meeting held at the ITC Fortune Hotel in Durgapur, they added.

Party insiders said West Bengal has now become a top priority for the BJP, making this visit politically significant. Sources pointed out that Bengal is the first state the new BJP chief visited after taking charge. In fact, they added, that his first meeting in New Delhi was also with the Bengal BJP core committee.

Local leaders described him as energetic, disciplined, and organisation-focused with particular attention to district-level structures. The visit included district-wise assessments, strategy discussions, and a review of candidate selection approaches.

“Delighted to welcome our young and dynamic BJP national president, Shri Nitin Nabin ji, at Andal airport today. This marks his first visit to West Bengal since taking charge as the youngest-ever BJP national president. His presence infuses fresh energy and renewed resolve in our fight against the corrupt, anti-people TMC government and towards forming a BJP government in the upcoming Assembly elections,” said senior leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The sources further said the visit has generated significant political attention during election season. He is scheduled to attend organisational meetings, interact with leaders, and take part in multiple events across Durgapur and surrounding districts over the two days of his stay, they said.

They also said discussions are expected to focus on strengthening election strategy, improving booth-level coordination, and emphasising the role of women, youth, and booth workers in shaping the party’s electoral performance. The BJP sees growing organisational opportunities in districts such as Bardhaman, Asansol, Birbhum, Bankura, and Purulia, they added.