Walkover for Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur: Despite Suvendu’s Roar, BJP Fails to Strike
In a move that has sparked controversy within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, the party recently announced new presidents for three Mandals (divisions) under the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency. However, the appointments have triggered a wave of discontent among Bengali BJP leaders and workers, as none of the newly appointed Mandal presidents are Bengali.
Bhabanipur holds significant political importance as it is the constituency of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP’s decision to exclude Bengalis from key leadership positions in the area has raised questions about the party’s commitment to strengthening its support among local Bengali voters.
The announcement has fueled outrage among grassroots-level BJP workers, many of whom believe that the decision weakens their fight against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). A senior Bengali BJP leader from Bhabanipur expressed frustration, saying:
“While BJP’s central leadership, including opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, is strategizing to challenge Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, sidelining Bengali leaders from key posts makes our fight weaker. This will only benefit the TMC.”
Another leader highlighted the issue of non-residency, pointing out that Rabindra Chaudhuri, the president of Bhabanipur-1 Mandal, is not even a resident of Bhabanipur but now lives in the Ballygunge Assembly constituency.
Bhabanipur Assembly constituency consists of eight municipal wards and is divided into three Mandals by the BJP for organizational purposes. The newly appointed Mandal presidents are:
Bhabanipur-1 Mandal: Rabindra Chaudhuri (Non-Bengali) – Retained his position from the previous term.
Bhabanipur-2 Mandal: Shiv Sagar Yadav (Non-Bengali) – Replaced Sanjit Kumar Sharma, who served four consecutive terms.
Bhabanipur-3 Mandal: Rahul Pandey (Non-Bengali) – Replaced Ashok Gangopadhyay, the only Bengali leader in a Mandal president position.
The removal of Ashok Gangopadhyay, a veteran leader associated with the BJP since the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era, has particularly intensified anger among local party workers.
Responding to the backlash, BJP’s Kolkata zone in-charge, Agnimitra Paul, defended the appointments, stating that the selection process was democratic and based on support from grassroots workers. She said:
“The Mandal presidents were chosen through a structured process where opinions were gathered from booth-level members. Those who received the maximum support were appointed. However, if any worker or leader has concerns, they are welcome to voice them on the party platform.”
Despite this explanation, dissent within the party continues to grow. Many believe that the decision is politically unwise, as it risks alienating Bengali voters, a crucial demographic for BJP’s electoral success in the state.
Adding to BJP’s challenges, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified its campaign to strengthen Bengali identity politics. Recently, TMC state president Subrata Bakshi directed party workers to celebrate ‘West Bengal Day’ on Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year), emphasizing Bengali pride and heritage.
This move is seen as a strategic attempt to solidify TMC’s base by reinforcing Bengali cultural identity, especially when BJP is facing backlash over appointing non-Bengali leaders in Bhabanipur.
BJP’s internal conflict over leadership appointments raises concerns about its ability to challenge Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur. The party has struggled to make significant electoral gains in Kolkata, and sidelining Bengali leaders could further alienate its support base.
Many disgruntled BJP workers are considering escalating the matter to Suvendu Adhikari, hoping that he will intervene to restore Bengali representation in Bhabanipur’s leadership structure.
With the 2025 Assembly elections approaching, BJP must address these internal divisions and realign its strategy if it hopes to strengthen its position in West Bengal.