Original Image: PTI
On March 14, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its list of candidates who will contest elections in the third and fourth phases in the state. But the exclusion of several senior members and old hands of the party, and allocation of their seats to former Trinamool Congress (TMC) members who have recently joined the BJP, led to protests across the state.
The Telegraph reports that tension was palpable in Raidighi and Diamond Harbour, where the BJP has given tickets to TMC turncoats Shantanu Bapuli and Dipak Halder. Party workers were also enraged when Bishal Lama, a former member of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) was given a ticket to contest from Kalchini. Lama was a close associate of Bimal Gurung. Then there was widespread disappointment over Ashok Lahiri, a noted economist being given a ticket from Alipurduar.
But tensions boiled over in Hooghly, when members vandalised the party’s district office in Chinsurah to protest the candidacy of TMC turncoat Rabindranath Bhattacharya from Singur, and another former TMC man Prabir Ghoshal from Uttarpara. BJP’s own state leader Deepanjan Guha is perceived to be an outsider in Chandernagore from where he has been fielded.
Meanwhile, the BJP appears to be relying heavily on ‘celebrity’ party members. Swapan Dasgupta, a noted journalist and a presidential nominee to the Rajya Sabha resigned, amidst controversy about his nomination as the BJP candidate from Tarakeshwar. TMC MP Mahua Moitra tweeted about it saying, “Swapan Dasgupta is BJP candidate for WB polls. 10th Schedule of Constitution says nominated RS member to be disqualified if he joins any political party AFTER expiry of 6 months from oath. He was sworn in April 2016, remains unallied. Must be disqualified NOW for joining BJP.”
Swapan Dasgupta is BJP candidate for WB polls.
10th Schedule of Constitution says nominated RS member to be disqualified if he joins any political party AFTER expiry of 6 months from oath.
He was sworn in April 2016, remains unallied.
Must be disqualified NOW for joining BJP. pic.twitter.com/d3CDc9dNCe— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) March 15, 2021
Meanwhile, a steady stream of A-list BJP leaders has been making multiple trips to the poll-bound state, including the big two: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Just last weekend Nitin Ghadkari and Smriti Irani also addressed rallies in the state.
But there are reports that the turnout at BJP’s rallies remains low, with allegations of manipulated camera angles. So much so, that it is being alleged that Amit Shah had to cancel his rally in Jaghram due to poor turnout of people, rather than a chopper snag as claimed by the BJP. SabrangIndia had previously reported on the lukewarm response to PM Modi’s rally at Brigade Ground.
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