Daijiworld Media Network – Kolkata

Kolkata, Jun 8: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday called upon BJP functionaries to embrace the principle of “we and not I”, stressing that collective leadership would be crucial in advancing the party’s ideology and meeting public expectations.

Addressing a preparatory meeting for the BJP’s special training camp in New Town near Kolkata, Adhikari said all party workers should work together and promote a culture of collective leadership.

He also claimed that a section of government officials continued to hold a negative mindset towards implementing the policies and programmes of the BJP government in the state.

“The government's policies need to percolate down to the lowest level of functionaries, and those having a negative mindset have to be rectified,” he said.

Referring to the last Assembly elections, Adhikari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had highlighted the condition of people under the Trinamool Congress regime and outlined the changes a BJP government would bring to the state.

He said a significant responsibility rested on his shoulders as Chief Minister to fulfil those commitments and assured that efforts would continue in that direction.

Adhikari noted that West Bengal's political landscape differed from many other states due to its year-round political activity and said BJP workers must adapt accordingly.

Stating that the state had witnessed 34 years of Left Front rule followed by 15 years of Trinamool Congress governance, he urged BJP leaders, workers and elected representatives to work closely together to strengthen the party's political ideology, fulfil the Prime Minister’s guarantees and meet the aspirations of the people.

The Chief Minister assured that all promises made in the BJP’s election manifesto would be implemented in phases. He asked party workers to closely monitor the fulfilment of those commitments and bring any issues to the attention of local legislators or the Chief Minister’s office.

He also stressed the need for close coordination between party workers and elected representatives to ensure that government welfare schemes and benefits reach deserving beneficiaries.

Adhikari said he had initiated twice-weekly meetings of the BJP core committee and regular interactions with people at the party’s Salt Lake office, while seeking continued cooperation and feedback from party workers.

Announcing new initiatives, the Chief Minister said the West Bengal government would establish a separate Ayush department on the lines of the Centre to promote traditional systems of medicine and healthcare.

He further stated that the government would provide employment to a family member of each of the 315 BJP workers who allegedly lost their lives in incidents of political violence in the state.

Adhikari also announced that the state government would plant 1.10 crore trees across West Bengal under an environmental initiative launched on World Environment Day on June 5.