BJP workers continue protests across Bengal over choice of candidates
Trinamool leaders who recently joined BJP have been prioritised, they alleged.
Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued protests across West Bengal over the choice of candidates who have been fielded by the party for the coming Assembly polls. The BJP has announced its candidates for the third and fourth phases two days back.
There was violence and chaos outside the BJP’s office in Kolkata’s Hastings on Tuesday morning as party workers from several districts tried to break open a gate in the building. They were protesting that the party had nominated “turncoat” leaders instead of those who had been with the party for years. The protests had started on Monday, as hundreds of party supporters turned up, and while it was focused on slogan shouting and showing placards, it soon turned violent as they tried to enter the premises by breaking open gates and barricades.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held meetings with senior BJP leaders of West Bengal on Monday evening and inquired why the agitation was taking place. According to BJP sources, Shah has called the party’s election committee for an emergency meeting in the national capital on Tuesday evening to discuss the matter.
On Monday, party workers ransacked party offices in Hooghly. The dissent, which initially started with the announcement of Rabindranath Bhattacharya as candidate from the Singur constituency, is turning out to be a bigger headache for the party’s senior leaders. Party workers from Hooghly, Alipurduar, and Midnapore held protests as well.
Since 5 AM on Tuesday, party dissenters could be seen camping outside the BJP’s Hastings office. They threatened to contest elections from these seats as Independent candidates, if their demands were not met with. A protester from Kulpi in South 24 Parganas, said, “We have been working in the party for last 20-25 years, but the party has given ticket to those who joined our party recently.
On Monday, agitators at Hastings office showed black flags to BJP’s national vice president Mukul Roy when he was entering the office.
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