BJP infighting results in chaos in East and West Bardhaman

A simmering internal feud between BJP's old-timers and new members (turncoats from TMC) has come to the fore as both the warring factions vandalised the district office of BJP in Purba Bardhaman and assaulted its district president Sandeep Nandi.

Bardhaman (West Bengal): In poll-bound Bengal, internal bickering among the two warring parties — Trinamool Congress and BJP — are only increasing by the numbers. The recent incidents at both Purba and Paschim Bardhaman districts have yet again exposed the growing fault lines within the opposition BJP.

Clashes broke out between the BJP old-timers and those who have joined the saffron brigade in recent times, most of whom are turncoats from the ruling Trinamool Congress. The district office of BJP in Purba Bardhaman was vandalised. At least three vehicles and a couple of motorcycles were torched. An irate group of BJP workers went on a rampage inside the party office

The internal feud has become a matter of concern for the party's top leaders when the state elections roughly three months away. Group clashes erupted at BJP offices at two different places on Thursday between old BJP workers and those who joined the party from TMC. Even the district BJP party office in Purba Bardhaman was also vandalised. BJP's Purba Bardhaman district president Sandeep Nandi was allegedly beaten up.

In another incident, the programme of the Yuva Morcha got disrupted in Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district after clashes broke out between two groups. The abuse and scuffling continued in the presence of BJP leader Arvind Menon and local MP Babul Supriya and it took much effort from the leaders to pacify the warring factions and bring in some order.

The simmering discontent brewing between the old-timers and newbies in the BJP could eventually turn to be a matter of concern for the party leadership. The way several party workers Kanksa, Ausgram, Mangalkot, Katwa and other places of Purba Bardhaman gathered in front of the party's Bardhaman town office at Ghordaur Chati area and demanded the immediate removal of district chief Sandip Nandi, is bound to evoke a sense of concern for the party satraps. Groups owing allegiance to Nandi, who were inside the office, climbed to the terrace and started pelting stones at the other group. Some vehicles were set ablaze.

The main bone of contention was, highhandedness and arbitrary decisions with the BJP have become the rule of the day in the district. The spark that acted as an ignition was the recent decision of the party to induct Bardhaman East MP Sunil Mondal from the Trinamool Congress to the party fold. The decision never went down well. Mondal has already faced protests in Kolkata from his earlier party and now is under fire from his new address.

Paschim Bardhaman also witnessed the 'old versus new' clash between BJP workers. Workers from Kulti and Barabani Assembly constituencies had raised their voices during a discussion on the BJP district Yuva Morcha's membership campaign. Recently, the BJP District Yuva Morcha committee had been announced, where many old timers were allegedly left out. The other allegation was, many new faces in the committee were the inactive and corrupt ones from the Trinamool Congress.

Matters soon heated up and quarrels turned violent. BJP's all-India secretary Arvind Menon and MP Babul Supiryo could hardly do anything to placate the anger among a section of party workers. Here also district BJP president Laxman Ghorui was in the centre of the controversy and he was accused of nepotism and favouritism.

Though Supriyo denied any infighting and said, “When every member of a family talks, it makes a little noise. Everyone wants to voice their opinion. But, in the end, the meeting went well.” Menon shied away from commenting. Some party leaders tried to blame the Trinamool Congress for the chaos, which the party denied.

With elections closing in, the infighting issue could lead to more problems and embarrassment for the BJP.