Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh handed over LED bulbs to 10 lucky draw winners selected from those who attended a “cha-chakra (tête-à-tête over tea)” at Jodhpur Park in Calcutta on Wednesday morning, inviting ridicule from the Trinamul Congress which said the programme was a flop and the gifts had been offered to attract participants.

Ghosh had launched the “cha chakra” initiative in 2019 in response to Mamata Banerjee’s “Didi ke Bolo” and as part of an attempt to reach out to people and spread the BJP’s message with an eye on Assembly elections.

However, the cha-chakra at Jodhpur Park on Wednesday morning stood out as some of those who attended the session with Ghosh got coupons with tea bags.

“I was not sure why a coupon with a number was given along with the tea bag... Later, I realised that the number was for a lucky draw. After the programme, the BJP president handed over LED bulbs to 10 people who were selected through the lucky draw,” said a middle-aged man who took part in the programme held near Jodhpur Park post office.

The inclusion of lucky-draw in the cha-chakra offered Trinamul an opportunity to go after the BJP. “This initiative was a cheap gimmick. The cha-chakra has been a huge flop as people are not interested in it. As the polls are drawing closer, they are desperate to show that people are with them and that’s why lucky draws are held,” said Trinamul MP Sougata Roy.

BJP’s South Calcutta district committee, which organised the tea session, said over 1,000 people had joined Ghosh for their morning cuppa and enjoyed the discussion. “We think there is nothing wrong in giving LED bulbs to lucky winners. The electricity tariff is very high in Bengal and the LED bulbs will help people cut monthly electricity bill,” said Shankar Shikdar, the president of the district unit.