Dharmanagar/Kailashahar
(Tripura), Feb 9: In the run up to the all important Assembly elections to
the Tripura Assembly and amid perceived good going, one factor that can harm
the prospects of BJP candidates is the internal squabbling.
The infighting is chiefly between 'old and genuine BJP
workers' and the new entrants and 'turncoats' from the Congress and even from
the CPI-M.
The paradox is such that in some cases - sheer frustration has led many "former genuine BJP workers" even to extend moral support to the age-old political detractors - the Left party candidates.
In prestigious Dharmanagar Assembly segment - which has maintained anti-CPI(M) electoral mood since 2008 - the BJP has fielded former Congress legislator and a local heavyweight Bishwabandhu Sen.
Consequently, the BJP ticket aspirant from amongst the 'original BJP workers' Jawahar Chakraborty sounded his displeasure.
"The BJP leadership sensed bigger trouble and internal sabotage and thus Mr Chakraborty was assigned election related works in other districts," says local columnist Samar Chakraborty.
Predictably, the official BJP candidate - Bishwabandhu Sen has downplayed the possible dissension among the rank and file of the party. "Jawahar Chakraborty is my younger brother. Now I am part of the BJP family and as the party leadership has reposed faith in me to deliver and win the seat, that is the goal of BJP workers and leaders," Mr Sen told UNI.
He also said Jawahar Chakraborty's wife Mrs Barnali accompanied him during filing of nomination and she has been also campaigning for the "official BJP candidate".
BJP general secretary of Dharmanagar unit Amitabh Dutta, a former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad leader, also endorses Mr Sen's views and says, "Now the focus is clear; we need to win. The BJP is so near the striking distance to unseat the grossly inefficient and corrupt communists. Every BJP workers and supporters - old and new - thus are focused".
In nearby Kailashahar Assembly constituency too, the internal infighting has surfaced after BJP leadership and poll strategists gave importance to a former CPI-M leader Nitish Dey and gave him the ticket.
A former general secretary of the district unit - Jayanta Chakraborty has quit the party and floated the Atal Vikas Manch.
"This Manch is a forum of genuine BJP workers. The unprincipled manner, the BJP leaders Sunil Deodhar and Biplab Deb have worked. It is unacceptable and hence we floated the Manch," says Jayanta Chakraborty.
Chakraborty says he was expelled within days of his media conference where he announced floating of the new platform.
"They did not have courtesy to talk to us. No notice was served and even my wife was expelled for six years," he says.
Interestingly enough, the Atal Vikas Manch has fielded a candidate in Agartala's Banamalipur constituency wherein BJP state unit chief Biplab Deb is contesting.
The rebel BJP group in Agartala, Dharmanagar and other places are also getting in touch with 'national rebel camp' led by Yashwant Sinha.
"The sidelining of genuine BJP workers is painful and despite the hype, the saffron party will face major problems in many constituencies," says another member of the Atal Vikas Manch Ranjan Chatterjee.
There is quite a irony in the entire rebellion drama too. Most BJP rebels are directly or indirectly getting in touch with the CPI-M candidates and local offices.
Thus as a visiting journalist knocks the CPI-M office at Kailashahar, not surprisingly - one is told of the setting up of the Atal Vikas Manch.
There are volunteers to guide to the Manch leaders' residence and some even offer you the telephone numbers.
Who says - enemy's enemy is not a friend ? UNI
The paradox is such that in some cases - sheer frustration has led many "former genuine BJP workers" even to extend moral support to the age-old political detractors - the Left party candidates.
In prestigious Dharmanagar Assembly segment - which has maintained anti-CPI(M) electoral mood since 2008 - the BJP has fielded former Congress legislator and a local heavyweight Bishwabandhu Sen.
Consequently, the BJP ticket aspirant from amongst the 'original BJP workers' Jawahar Chakraborty sounded his displeasure.
"The BJP leadership sensed bigger trouble and internal sabotage and thus Mr Chakraborty was assigned election related works in other districts," says local columnist Samar Chakraborty.
Predictably, the official BJP candidate - Bishwabandhu Sen has downplayed the possible dissension among the rank and file of the party. "Jawahar Chakraborty is my younger brother. Now I am part of the BJP family and as the party leadership has reposed faith in me to deliver and win the seat, that is the goal of BJP workers and leaders," Mr Sen told UNI.
He also said Jawahar Chakraborty's wife Mrs Barnali accompanied him during filing of nomination and she has been also campaigning for the "official BJP candidate".
BJP general secretary of Dharmanagar unit Amitabh Dutta, a former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad leader, also endorses Mr Sen's views and says, "Now the focus is clear; we need to win. The BJP is so near the striking distance to unseat the grossly inefficient and corrupt communists. Every BJP workers and supporters - old and new - thus are focused".
In nearby Kailashahar Assembly constituency too, the internal infighting has surfaced after BJP leadership and poll strategists gave importance to a former CPI-M leader Nitish Dey and gave him the ticket.
A former general secretary of the district unit - Jayanta Chakraborty has quit the party and floated the Atal Vikas Manch.
"This Manch is a forum of genuine BJP workers. The unprincipled manner, the BJP leaders Sunil Deodhar and Biplab Deb have worked. It is unacceptable and hence we floated the Manch," says Jayanta Chakraborty.
Chakraborty says he was expelled within days of his media conference where he announced floating of the new platform.
"They did not have courtesy to talk to us. No notice was served and even my wife was expelled for six years," he says.
Interestingly enough, the Atal Vikas Manch has fielded a candidate in Agartala's Banamalipur constituency wherein BJP state unit chief Biplab Deb is contesting.
The rebel BJP group in Agartala, Dharmanagar and other places are also getting in touch with 'national rebel camp' led by Yashwant Sinha.
"The sidelining of genuine BJP workers is painful and despite the hype, the saffron party will face major problems in many constituencies," says another member of the Atal Vikas Manch Ranjan Chatterjee.
There is quite a irony in the entire rebellion drama too. Most BJP rebels are directly or indirectly getting in touch with the CPI-M candidates and local offices.
Thus as a visiting journalist knocks the CPI-M office at Kailashahar, not surprisingly - one is told of the setting up of the Atal Vikas Manch.
There are volunteers to guide to the Manch leaders' residence and some even offer you the telephone numbers.
Who says - enemy's enemy is not a friend ? UNI
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