The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday suspended two former vice-presidents just one day after issuing show-cause notices to leaders. The state department has temporarily suspended Joy Prakash Majumdar and Ritesh Tiwari until disciplinary proceedings against the leaders have not been completed. On Sunday, the party issued a show-cause notice to two BJP leaders.

The pair were removed in a recent organizational shake-up after Sukanta Majumdar took over as West Bengal BJP chairman. The two senior BJP leaders held meetings with Mathuya leader and Bangka MP Santanu Thakur on separate occasions.

Responding to the development, Mr Tiwari said that never before in the party’s history had a leader been suspended just one day after issuing a letter of reason, and refused to have any opportunity to respond to the notice. Both leaders are well-known faces of the National People’s Party and have served as party spokespersons. The development once again highlights the internal squabbles that have been frequent over the past few months.

Mr. Santanu Thakur, who is minister of state for the Union of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said he would continue to meet with BJP leaders and such notices of the reasons for the display would have no impact. Over the past few weeks, several meetings of the disaffected BJP leader led by federal ministers and a picnic in his constituency have highlighted divisions in the state unit. Mr Sukanta Majumdar said a notice had been issued to leaders as directed by the party’s “disciplinary committee”.

Matuas is restless
Meanwhile, MLA Subrata Thakur from the Gaighata constituency said Matuas across the state would develop an outreach plan in response to their request. Mr Santanu Thakur’s younger brother re-emphasized the need for rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA). The Mathuya leader was also keen to visit Delhi and raised differences with the party’s senior leaders. Several MLAs from Matua’s populous district and the state’s Jangalmahal district have written to the party’s senior leadership demanding the removal of several newly appointed district presidents. Later, on Monday night, another BJP MLA from Nadia Asim Sakaharimhatta met Mr Santanu Thakur and discussed the ongoing political developments. Mr Sukanta Majumdar said that on the CAA issue, the Mathuya leaders could meet the federal home minister in Delhi and the party state unit would provide all cooperation. Matuas, who are Hindus from Bangladesh and settled in the border areas of the state, have supported the BJP in past Lok Sabha and parliamentary polls.

Complete News Source : The Hindu