Dissidence surface in both Trinamool and BJP as well over ticket distribution in North Bengal.
The northern part of West Bengal always complains about alleged step motherly treatment and hence creation of a new administrative setup is a prominent demand.
But for 'mainstream Bengal'; division of the state -- the so-called Banga Bhanga - is an emotional issue hence both the BJP and Trinamool leaders would be shy of declaring anything directly and openly.
 |
| Historic Coochbehar Palace - Now a Govt Museum |
“I am a victim of a deep political conspiracy,” said Rabindranath Ghosh, a senior TMC leader in Coochbehar.
"There’s nothing much to say… one doesn’t have to remain in politics forever," he remarked within hours Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee announced candidate list.
Ghosh had won from the Natabari seat twice and served as a Bengal minister. In 2019, he was removed from the district president’s post and in 2021 he had the seat.
This time the TMC ticket has been given to Sailen Barman.
Interestingly, the BJP has not decided its candidate yet and there is a catch.
Reportedly, the saffron party is in discussion with a small political outfit - Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Party (Bangshibadan Barman faction).
Natabari is one of the seats in discussions and so are Sitai and Coochbehar South.
Sitai is a reserved seat and the RSS had pushed the candidature of a senior Sangh man. But apparently, things are not working at the pace it was expected and hence even in the second list if candidates -- Sitai (SC) constituency name was skipped.
 |
| Blogger in Sitai region |
There are certain complex local issues which are apparently in discussions. One of them is inclusion of Rajbongshi language in the 8th Schedule. BJP state unit president Samik Bhattacharya has flagged off the matter even in his capacity as the Rajya Sabha member.
But the controversy is BJP top leaders including Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is in discussion with a small entity and the party in debate may not be quite influential locally.
Nevertheless, the BJP central leaders are also bargaining hard. They may accommodate the candidates (two or three) from the Greater Coochbehar Party (Bangshibadhan faction) but reportedly want them to contest on BJP ticket.
There is yet another tricky facet.
Any chance or hint being given that the BJP may give into the demand for a separate administrative unit could be 'exploited' by Trinamool and give it anti-Bengal agenda of the Lotus party.
Things may not end with such simple issues.
The Local-loyalty dimensions are also at play.
Trinamool candidate from Sitalkuchi for this year's polls Harihar Das is actually a former school teacher and an ex-BJP leader. Mamata Banerjee had wooed him to her flock last year by making him chairperson of the advisory committee that runs the Rajbanshi Bhasha Academy. These have complicated matters on ground.
Harihar is a loyalist of BJP's Rajya Sabha MP, Nagendra Ray, also commonly known as Anant Maharaj.
Anant Maharaj as a gamble did not yield any great success for the BJP. Anant is also a leader of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party.
"We would like to see how Anant Maharaj campaigns during the coming elections ... either for TMC or the BJP," says a local resident.
The BJP nominee from Sitalkuchi will be Savitri Barman.
The ticket distribution and selection of right candidates in right segments has become the real flashpoint.
"The announcements of candidates by BJP and TMC in various segments are reshaping the political landscape and making and unmaking the dynamics," says Dilip Das, a school teacher in Sitai.
"If BJP has blundered, they may lose three-four seats out of six in Coochbehar. Moreover, their candidates for seats such as Dinhata are not good. Why BJP is fielding Former Minister Nisith Pramanik from Mathabhanga is also a mystery," he added.
Problems are for TMC as well.
In Alipurduar, former MLA Sourav Chakraborty put up posts on social media sarcastically aimed at jurnalist Suman Kanjilal. The posts alleged there had been much development in Alipurduar and polls would be carried out under the leadership of a person who had taken tenders for jobs worth around Rs 200 crore.
His grievance is understandable because Trinamool has fielded scribe Kanjilal from the seat. In 2021, the same Kanjilal had contested from the BJP and defeated Chakraborty but had defected to Trinamool.
In yet another segment Khageswar Roy, a four-time Trinamool MLA from Rajganj, criticised the decision of dropping him and resigned from the district chairman’s post.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment