Unable to get the party’s 250 bikes registered in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party authorities have sent them back to where they had been brought from: Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP’s UP unit had offered 250 bikes for use by those recruited for full-time work in the run-up to the coming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal. The recruits – called vistaraks – meant to work on a full-time basis, were to be given these bikes as they constantly need to be on the move. “They would be away from home and need to move from one place to another constantly,” an official said. The 250 vistaraks are being assigned specific areas covering all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Brought from UP, the bikes however, were registered with number plates from that state, and in order to be used in West Bengal, they needed to be registered in Bengal with the state transport department. However, BJP insiders say that the state transport department did not give them the clearance despite repeated pleas. “The ruling Trinamool Congress is trying to stop everything we do, and the government officials unfortunately are following what the ruling party is saying,” a BJP leader said.
For months, these bikes were lying unused in Kolkata, kept as a closely guarded secret. After months of trying hard to get them registered in West Bengal, the BJP authorities have now realised the futility of their attempt, and have decided to send the bikes back to Uttar Pradesh.
A decision was therefore been taken to purchase 250 new bikes. About 200 bikes have been purchases and some more are to be purchased, it is learnt.
[Cover image representational]
