Bengal BJP’s civic poll dilemma: Old guard bristles as ex-TMC leaders eye tickets

The West Bengal BJP's preparations for the forthcoming civic elections have opened a new fault line, as the prospect of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders receiving party tickets has triggered resentment among workers who spent years building the party.

The discontent is no longer confined to internal party forums, with several BJP leaders now publicly questioning the prospect of accommodating former TMC councillors, even as the state leadership seeks to reassure its old guard that those who stood by the party during its years in Opposition will not be overlooked.

How many ex-TMC Councillors will get BJP nominations?

According to party sources, at least 22 former TMC Councillors are being considered for BJP nominations in Kolkata. Another 15-20 ex-TMC leaders, or members of their families, are also under consideration for tickets in different civic bodies. Several former mayor-in-council members and borough chairpersons are also said to figure in the proposed list.

The prospect has caused concern among sections of the BJP functionaries, particularly in areas where party workers faced political violence and sustained opposition from the TMC during its 15-year rule.

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Another bone of contention for the BJP's old guard is the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), formed by a group of former TMC MPs who left the party after its Assembly election defeat and extended support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The NCPI has been seeking an electoral understanding with the BJP for the civic polls, arguing that its association with the NDA should translate into a share of seats in West Bengal.

The party has reportedly sought around 40 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s (KMC) 209 wards, following the recent delimitation that increased the number of wards from 144, and approached former TMC councillors to explore possible nominations.

Samik Bhattacharya rules out BJP-NCPI alliance

While NCPI leaders have pressed for an alliance, the BJP old guard has repeatedly maintained that the party will contest the civic polls on its own.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya ruled out an alliance with the NCPI, saying the party would contest the Kolkata and Howrah civic polls on its own.

He even sought to distinguish the BJP's national-level understanding with the NCPI from the political equation in Bengal, saying, “There may be an understanding with NCPI in Delhi, but Delhi and Kolkata are about 1,500 kilometres apart.”

Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, who is overseeing the BJP's preparations for the KMC polls, however, sent out mixed signals on a possible alliance.

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“Nothing is impossible, but so far there is no news of any alliance,” he said on October 24.

He later ruled out such an arrangement, saying the BJP would contest all 209 wards on its own.

CM Suvendu’s visit to NCPI leader Sudip’s house

The alliance question resurfaced after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the north Kolkata residence of NCPI leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay earlier this week.

After the visit, Adhikari told reporters they had not discussed political matters and that the BJP's state president and state in-charge, Sunil Bansal, would respond to questions about a possible alliance.

Sudip, however, said he had discussed the issue with Adhikari two or three months earlier and that the chief minister had agreed on the need for the NCPI to participate actively as an NDA partner.

He said a decision on the proposed understanding would be finalised the following week.

The visit and Sudip's remarks added to speculation about the possibility of an arrangement, even as the state BJP leadership continued to publicly rule one out.

BJP MLA Bagchi threatens self-immolation

Acknowledging differences within the party over accommodating former TMC leaders, a BJP leader said, “A section of our workers is opposed to bringing former TMC leaders into the party. They have spent years fighting these leaders on the ground. Giving them BJP tickets now would be difficult to explain to those who stood by the party through those years.”

This opposition has now spilled into the open, with a BJP MLA going to the extent of threatening self-immolation over the proposed induction of two former TMC municipal chairmen into the party.

Barrackpore BJP MLA Kaustav Bagchi threatened to pour kerosene over himself outside the party's state headquarters if former Barrackpore municipal chairman Uttam Das and former Titagarh municipal chairman Prashanta Chowdhury were admitted into the BJP.

The two former civic body chiefs had recently shared a platform with state transport minister Arjun Singh at a local social event.

Bagchi receives BJP MLAs’ support

Both Das and Chowdhury were named in a police complaint filed by slain BJP leader Manish Shukla’s father after his son was murdered in October 2020. The complaint alleged that the two were involved in the conspiracy behind the killing.

Bagchi's stand received support from BJP MLAs representing neighbouring constituencies, while other leaders, including former state president Dilip Ghosh, criticised him and backed Singh.

Jagaddal MLA Rajesh Kumar said Bagchi had voiced the sentiments of party workers, while Naihati MLA Sumitra Chatterjee said he had merely cautioned the leadership about whom to admit into the party.

Ghosh, however, criticised Bagchi, pointing out that he had himself joined the BJP after leaving the Congress. “If he could join, others could also join,” Ghosh said.

The Barrackpore confrontation reflects the wider dilemma facing the state BJP over its dealings with former TMC leaders seeking to cosy up to the party.