Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to be in Calcutta on October 24 to hold meetings with senior BJP functionaries, his first trip to Bengal since the party's Lok Sabha seat tally in the state went down to 12 in the 2024 general election from 18 in 2019.

Several BJP insiders have said they are looking forward to the visit as it comes at a time when widespread protests are on against the Mamata Banerjee government over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"This is an important phase in Bengal politics.... Amit-ji will give us guidance on how to go ahead," said a BJP source.

As Shah's likely visit to the state comes after the Election Commission announced bypolls in six Assembly constituencies, the source said the Union home minister was likely to outline a road map for the by-elections, besides instructing the state BJP leadership on how to prepare for the 2026 Assembly elections.

BJP sources indicated that, in addition to organisational discussions, Shah would hold a meeting of the party's extended state committee at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) where MPs, MLAs, and state and district leaders would be invited to be present.

"His visit will serve as an additional boost for us, especially in the context of R.G. Kar rape and murder case when the entire state is up in arms against the ruling Trinamul Congress and chief minister Mamata Banerjee," a senior BJP leader said.

"He will address grassroots leaders and his guidance in this political climate will not only help us in the upcoming bypolls but also strategically prepare us for the next Assembly elections," the leader said, adding that lower-level leaders, who were struggling with a lack of direction after the party's failure to capitalise on the R.G. Kar movement and its poor performance in the last Lok Sabha election, might find renewed motivation.

BJP sources indicated the party planned to kick off its election campaign with a membership drive tied to a signature collection initiative. The membership drive was announced by BJP national president J.P. Nadda on August 16 and officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 2.

While Bengal was given a target to increase the number of BJP members from 88 lakh last year to 1 crore this time, the central leadership opted to start the campaign after the Puja festivities because of the state leaders' involvement in the R.G. Kar movement.

BJP Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya, who is given the responsibility of heading the membership drive in the state, said: “The membership drive is a very important function of the party, where, apart from getting new members, all old party members will have to renew their membership.”

Party sources also indicated that Shah might use the visit to hold discussions with top state leaders to finalise the choice for the party's state president, who will lead the BJP in the Assembly elections.

Although the state BJP leadership is upbeat about the expected visit of Shah after a gap of nearly six months, political observers believe the party needs to go for an overhaul if it has to make any mark in the next Assembly polls.

“Although there is a strong negative sentiment across the state against the ruling dispensation, it is not enough to make a mark in the election. The BJP, on the other hand, has already been outplayed by the Left parties in the R.G. Kar movement and needs to draw up new strategies if they really want to boost their sagging vote bank,” a political observer said.