Discontent growing in TMC, BJP ranks over ticket distribution for LS election
While dissent from lesser-known leaders is unlikely to hit the ruling party’s prospects in West Bengal, given its reliance on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s popularity, it could pose a problem for BJP due to caste dynamics, say political analysts
iscontentment seems to be increasing by the day in sections of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal with several leaders from both camps expressing displeasure over the selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha election.
At least five senior TMC leaders, including Rajya
DSabha MP Mausam Benazir Noor and party spokesperson Santanu Sen, who were seeking nomination from the Malda North and Dum Dum seats, respectively, have expressed dissatisfaction after being denied tickets.
Even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s younger brother, Babun Banerjee, voiced his displeasure after not being nominated for the Howrah seat, in which the TMC gave its ticket to sitting MP Prasun Banerjee. The CM disowned him following his outburst.
Sitting BJP MP from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh, who had switched over to the TMC two years ago, returned to the BJP after being denied a ticket.
The BJP has also encountered embarrassing situations as Union Minister and Alipurduar MP John Barla and Rajya Sabha MP Ananta Maharaj, who have influence over the Scheduled Tribes and Rajbanshi community, respectively, expressed dissatisfaction over selection of candidates in some seats in north Bengal.
Playing it down
Both the TMC and BJP have downplayed the discontentment. “What you are calling discontentment is actually disappointment, which is natural if you are expecting something and don’t get it. But except for Arjun Singh, everybody else is still in TMC and is working for the party,”
TMC spokesperson Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said.
The BJP, which has set a target of winning over 35 seats in the State, has also been trying to pacify Mr. Maharaj and Mr. Barla.
Political analysts say while dissent among lesserknown figures is unlikely to significantly affect the TMC’s prospects, given the party’s reliance on the CM’s popularity, it could pose a problem for the BJP due to caste dynamics, particularly in north Bengal.