After a controversial Trinamool MLA in the Birbhum district joined it, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revised its recruitment policy in West Bengal on advice from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a senior party leader told The Hindu. Now any induction — other than that of very senior leaders — will be conducted only after a screening at the BJP Mandal level. Ten to 15 wards form a Mandal, and the RSS monitors these hyper-local units of its organisational structure closely. Besides BJP workers, the Mandals usually have RSS activists as well.
The Mandals will carry out the initial screening and send their recommendation to the BJP’s district committees. Till now, cadre of other parties approached the BJP’s top leaders and directly joining the party. Now, cadre of other parties will be inducted only after they are cleared by the respective Mandals. The decision was taken at the highest level and induction will now be “reasonably restricted”, the senior BJP leader said. However, there is no plan to call a halt to the induction or membership drive.