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Kolkata: BJP workers in Bengal claim that there have been attacks in the last three-and-a-half months since the results of the assembly elections were announced on May 2 and the Trinamool Congress returned to power in the state.
BJP says more than two dozen workers have been killed In the post-election violence, hundreds more were displaced. they also have alleged rape.
According to members of the Bengal BJP, even workers, supporters and local leaders are struggling to keep the herd together in the face of alleged intimidation and violence from the Trinamool Congress – ubiquitous in the state. . Election – nowhere to be seen.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda have been stirred up for their visit to Bengal.
While Shah last visited Bengal in April, ahead of the final phase of polling, Nadda arrived in the state on May 4 for a two-day visit, where he Visited the homes of party workers allegedly killed in political violence in South 24 Parganas and Kolkata.
Some local MPs have also been absent from the ground. While Babul Supriyo has largely stayed away from party programmes, Criticism Party’s Bengal leadership and announcement his departure from politicsMP Soumitra Khan has also been equally critical of BJP members Bengal unit leadership.
There have been two organizational meetings – one in July and the other in August in Kolkata – organized by two central leaders, Arvind Menon, of the BJP. National Secretary cum Incharge of West Bengal, and Shivprakash, National Joint Secretary General (Organisation). Bengal BJP leaders say this is the only time central leaders have visited the state.
Speaking to ThePrint, BJP members from the districts said they expected more support from central leaders. Many people have expressed displeasure over the BJP’s campaign plans, which, according to them, led to attacks on workers after the elections.
The state BJP acknowledges that there are complaints, noting that some central leaders did not “properly” engage experienced local politicians in the campaign, but it was the latter that ultimately bore the brunt of the violence. The central party leadership, however, denied the allegations of being MIA, saying the party was coordinating relief operations and helping workers at the grassroots level.
The BJP launched an aggressive campaign in West Bengal, bringing in top leaders from PM Narendra Modi to Shah and Nadda, as it aimed to form its first government in the state. However, the campaign failed to yield the desired results and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee returned with a landslide.
A senior leader told ThePrint that the party is trying to effect an organizational reorganization at the state, district and block committee levels in September in response to its defeat.
BJP ‘party in chaos’
A senior leader from East Midnapore district, Preeti Ranjan Maiti, described the BJP as a “party of anarchy”.
“Some of the disgruntled Trinamool leaders made the most of the chaos. How many BJP leaders have reached the affected villages since the election? Some central leaders visited a few villages just to be photographed and put them on social media.
Maiti, a school teacher working as an election agent in the Khejuri constituency, said he now prefers to be “passive” in the BJP and act only when directed by the Sangh (RSS).
BJP Minority front Chairman Ali Hussein said the group’s members expected “greater activism” from the leaders. Describing some central leaders”Vote Pakhi (seasonal birds that visit the state during elections)”, he said, adding, “We expected cooperation from senior central leaders if needed. No one came to see the workers or ask how they were doing. but our power chiefs, Board leader and state leader to stand like rocks.”
BJP state committee member and former president of the party’s East Midnapore unit Somnath Roy said, “These three months were very important for our workers. Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal is a state where the police do not even record a general diary of political violence cases without asking their political masters. Our workers beaten, robbed, dragged from homes and killed. We couldn’t even encircle Stations.
“Then how will we motivate our cadres? The central leaders were in a deep sleep. We didn’t even get proper medical and legal aid.”
Speaking to The Print, BJP’s Jalpaiguri district committee member Pradeep Tirkey said, “The party lost in Mal assembly constituency by around 5,700 votes. Since then Trinamool Congress has been terrorizing our workers, thousands were displaced. Many people have not yet returned to their villages. We expected more support from senior leaders.”
According to Tirkey, the Trinamool is “offering or threatening many of our local leaders with positions in their party”. “The offer was given to me too. But I refused to join. However, I had to go underground for a few days to avoid such violence.”
Minority Vice President Bashir Alam front, said that “at least six to seven Muslim activists were killed during the post-election violence”. “Some of their families have not yet received any compensation from the party. No senior central leader went to meet him.
BJP’s Burdwan district secretary Joydeep Chatterjee claimed that his son and wife remained in the hospital for weeks after they were allegedly beaten up by Trinamool workers. He said his house was also looted and ransacked.
“I was out of my house for two months, and returned a few days back. The central leaders did not approach us thinking that if they had come, the situation could have worsened.
Chatterjee said that he has not yet received any compensation from the party for the reconstruction of his house.
‘We’ve been there for the local members’
BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said he was aware that there were some “complaints” among the old people working as loyal soldiers on the ground.
“I know, many” workerI’m disappointed. Many are living far away. Two months ago, when I was visiting the districts, 50 percent board chairman Be absent in anger or grief. We are reaching them.
“Some central leaders, who have experience of winning states, were given the responsibility. It didn’t work out as we thought. Some old leaders were not properly involved in election work and then they faced unprecedented violence. I can understand their issues.”
However, he said, he is requesting local leaders to “strengthen the organization and not wait for a central leader to come and help them”.
“I am there with my workers. Our leaders fought the case so strongly in the court, some workers are now slowly returning to the party. Running in Calcutta High Court On post-election violence and its investigation. Earlier this month, the High Court had ordered the CBI to probe the post-poll violence and the agency on Saturday made his first arrest in relation to the case.
Central BJP leaders, however, denied the allegations against him, saying the party was coordinating relief operations and helping the workers.
“Several senior leaders, including the BJP national president, visited Bengal after the post-poll violence. Senior Ministers like V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, many of our National General Secretaries, senior leaders have visited Bengal and met workers at the grassroots level. Co-in-charge of West Bengal.
Local MPs and newly elected MLAs, he said, are “coordinating the on-ground efforts”. “I have traveled to organizational districts and talked to my workers. Others are coordinating relief operations or helping our aggrieved workers get legal aid in their fight against the oppressive TMC regime.”
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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