BJP Workers Lock Union Minister Subhas Sarkar in Party Office Amid District Leadership Dispute
In a dramatic turn of events, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in West Bengal’s Bankura district took the unprecedented step of locking up Union Minister Subhas Sarkar inside their party office on the 12th of September. Their protest stemmed from allegations that Sarkar, who is both the Minister of State for Education and a Member of Parliament representing Bankura, was displaying “dictatorial” behaviour in overseeing the district unit’s operations. The incident unfolded during a meeting chaired by Sarkar at approximately 1 pm when a group of BJP workers, vocally expressing their discontent, stormed into the district party office and physically confined him.
One of the protesters, Mohit Sharma, voiced grievances against Sarkar, accusing him of sidelining dedicated party workers in favour of individuals close to him, who were subsequently appointed to the district committee. Sharma further claimed that some party members had received show-cause notices, and their protest was an attempt to safeguard the integrity of the party.
He asserted, “This time, the BJP did not secure any seats in the Bankura Municipality due to his incompetence. In the previous election, the BJP won two wards. Additionally, they were unable to field candidates in many panchayat seats. It is truly disheartening.”
Amidst the escalating chaos, another group of BJP workers arrived at the scene, resulting in a physical altercation between the two factions. In response to the situation, a substantial police presence was dispatched to the party office, ultimately rescuing Subhas Sarkar from confinement.
Commenting on the incident, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya expressed his disappointment and deemed the episode unfortunate. He emphasized that necessary action would be taken against the party workers involved in the incident. Bhattacharya stated, “Such incidents are unacceptable in a disciplined party like the BJP. If there are any grievances, there is a proper forum to raise those concerns. We will thoroughly investigate the incident, and appropriate action will be taken against those responsible.”
Furthermore, Bhattacharya sought to clarify that Subhas Sarkar held no role in the district organization and that the allegations against him were primarily based on “misunderstandings.”Unfortunately, Subhas Sarkar could not be reached for comment regarding the incident at the time of reporting.
In response to the incident, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) shared a video clip on social media, highlighting the internal strife within the state BJP. They argued that with each passing day, the party appeared to be in disarray as infighting reached new heights. The TMC statement read, “In Bankura, vehement clashes erupted, & BJP workers locked Union Minister Subhas Sarkar in the party office. While unity within the party is a myth, BJP is a shining example of a weak foundation and misplaced priorities.”
The incident in Bankura has underscored the deep-seated divisions and discord within the state BJP, particularly concerning the functioning of district leadership and the allocation of roles and responsibilities. It remains to be seen how the party leadership will address and resolve these internal disputes, as they continue to cast a shadow over the political landscape in West Bengal.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 13th September 2023
