BJP Turns PM Modi State Visits into 'Swachhata Se Swagat' Cleanliness Drives
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a nationwide initiative called 'Swachhata Se Swagat' (Cleanliness as Welcome), turning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to states into organised cleanliness drives. The latest drive took place in Kolkata, where West Bengal BJP president Suvendu Adhikari led party workers in sweeping a public area.
Adhikari, wielding a broom alongside party volunteers, described the effort as a way to honour the Prime Minister's emphasis on cleanliness. 'We welcome PM Modi with brooms instead of bouquets. This is our tribute to his Swachh Bharat vision,' Adhikari told reporters.
The 'Swachhata Se Swagat' drives have been reported in multiple states ahead of the Prime Minister's scheduled visits. Party sources said the initiative began earlier this year and has gained momentum, with local units organising cleaning of roads, markets, and public buildings. In Bengal, the drive covered areas in central Kolkata, including the vicinity of a party office where Modi is expected to hold a public meeting.
The BJP's strategy aligns with the central government's Swachh Bharat Mission, launched in 2014, which aims to improve sanitation and waste management across the country. Critics, however, view the exercise as a political spectacle. Opposition parties in Bengal have accused the BJP of using cleanliness drives for electoral gains, but the party maintains it is a genuine effort to promote hygiene.
Political analysts note that such events serve multiple purposes: they reinforce Modi's image as a cleanliness champion, generate local media coverage, and engage party workers in visible community service. The drives also allow the BJP to project itself as a party committed to development and public welfare, especially in states where it faces strong competition.
In Kolkata, the drive drew a mixed response. Some residents appreciated the cleaning effort, while others questioned its timing. 'It's good that they are cleaning, but why only when a leader is coming? This should be regular,' said a shopkeeper near the drive location.
The BJP has not released a schedule of all planned 'Swachhata Se Swagat' events, but party officials confirmed that similar drives will be held in other states hosting PM Modi in the coming weeks. The initiative underscores the BJP's use of Modi's personal brand to boost its organisational presence at the grassroots level.
