BJP Faces Strategic Dilemma In West Bengal Against TMC Amidst Calls for State Division
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/2nd August 2024
The West Bengal BJP is grappling with uncertainty over its strategy to counter the ruling TMC, following a string of electoral defeats, from the 2021 Assembly elections to the recent Lok Sabha polls. The party is split on its approach, with some leaders advocating for the division of the state, while others firmly oppose such measures.
State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and several other party leaders have called for the creation of a separate state or Union Territory (UT) out of the northern districts of Bengal. In contrast, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, has rejected this proposal.
The discussion about dividing the state gained momentum after the BJP’s disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where the party’s seats fell from 18 in 2019 to 12. Majumdar, who is also the Union Minister of State for Education, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 24 to incorporate North Bengal into the Northeast. Majumdar highlighted the similarities between North Bengal and the Northeastern states and argued that such a move would bring more central funds and development to the region.
Majumdar’s proposal was supported by Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista, who pointed out that North Bengal, despite its rich cultural heritage and vast resources, receives only a minuscule portion of West Bengal’s annual budget. Additionally, BJP MP Nagendra Ray, also known as Anant Maharaj, demanded a separate state for Cooch Behar, citing historical injustices faced by its people. He is a leader of the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, which seeks a separate state for the Rajbanshi community, including parts of North Bengal and Assam.
Another voice in favor of state division is Murshidabad BJP MLA Gouri Shankar Ghosh, who supported MP Nishikant Dubey’s call for creating a UT by incorporating parts of Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
Despite these calls for division, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has stated that the party does not endorse splitting the state. Adhikari emphasized that while North Bengal is indeed neglected, the solution lies in the TMC government ensuring the region’s development by establishing institutions like AIIMS and an IIT in North Bengal, thus reducing the need for residents to travel to Kolkata for administrative tasks.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly opposed the divisive statements from BJP leaders. Addressing the Assembly, Banerjee condemned the calls for state division and warned against any attempts to partition Bengal. She criticized the BJP for bringing up the issue of division only after elections, accusing them of trying to destabilize the state out of frustration over electoral losses.
Within the BJP, there is an acknowledgment of a lack of a clear strategy for West Bengal. A senior party leader admitted that the central leadership is experimenting with various approaches for the state, which might alienate voters further. He agreed with Adhikari’s stance that the party should not pursue any division of Bengal.
The TMC continues to criticize the BJP for its recurring demands for state division following electoral setbacks. Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of being unable to accept their defeat and attempting to destabilize the state as a result. Ghosh asserted that these tactics would not succeed and the BJP would continue to lose ground in Bengal.
