BJP Suspends Diamond Harbour Candidate Abhijit Das Amid Post-Poll Violence Controversy
News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/22nd June 2024
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a show-cause notice to Abhijit Das, also known as Bobby, who was the party’s candidate from Diamond Harbour in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Das’s membership in the BJP has been temporarily suspended following allegations related to post-poll violence.
According to insiders from the BJP’s state unit, a protest erupted on Tuesday when the party’s central fact-finding team visited various areas in Diamond Harbour affected by post-election violence. The protesters, reportedly close associates of Das, accused the party leadership of neglecting the plight of local workers who have been rendered homeless since the vote counting concluded on June 4.
The state committee member revealed that due to these allegations, Das has been issued a show-cause notice demanding a response within seven days. Until further orders from the party’s high command, his membership has been suspended. The decision was confirmed by the BJP’s state president in West Bengal and Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, who stated that disciplinary action was initiated against Das. At the time of reporting, Das had not yet responded to the suspension.
The central fact-finding team, which includes prominent BJP figures such as Lok Sabha member and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police and current Rajya Sabha member Brijlal, and Upper House member Kabita Patidar, arrived in Kolkata on Sunday evening. Over the past two days, they have toured several areas, including Cooch Behar, Baruipur, and Diamond Harbour, to interact with victims of the post-poll violence.
The protests in Diamond Harbour highlighted the frustration among local BJP workers who felt abandoned by the party leadership in the aftermath of the election violence. The demonstrators voiced their concerns about the lack of support for those who lost their homes and faced violence since the election results were announced.
The situation escalated when it was discovered that the protesters were allegedly close allies of Das. This connection prompted the BJP leadership to take swift disciplinary action, issuing the show-cause notice and suspending Das’s membership. The notice requires Das to explain his association with the protesters and address the allegations within a week.
This development underscores the internal challenges faced by the BJP in West Bengal, particularly in handling post-poll violence and maintaining party discipline. The involvement of the central fact-finding team in assessing the situation further highlights the seriousness with which the party is addressing these issues.
The fact-finding team’s visit to violence-affected areas aims to gather firsthand information about the incidents and provide support to the victims. Their presence is also a sign of the party’s commitment to addressing grievances and ensuring justice for those affected by the violence.
The suspension of Das and the ongoing investigation into the protests reflect the BJP’s efforts to maintain order and accountability within its ranks. As the party awaits Das’s response to the show-cause notice, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact the BJP’s strategy and unity in West Bengal.
In summary, the BJP’s disciplinary action against Abhijit Das amidst allegations of neglect and post-poll violence in Diamond Harbour highlights the party’s internal challenges and efforts to uphold accountability. The central fact-finding team’s involvement emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the party’s resolve to address the issues faced by its workers and supporters in West Bengal.
