3 weeks ago
Bengal BJP unveils action taken against 200 party insiders
The BJP party in West Bengal wants to show it really means business about stopping bad behaviour by its own members.
After winning a big election in May, party leaders said they would not allow corruption.
The party sent warning letters called show-cause notices to more than 200 of its own members.
These letters told the members to stop doing party work until further notice.
The complaints against them included corruption, extortion and other wrongdoing.
About half of the cases have now been sorted out.
Some members said sorry, and some showed proof that they were innocent.
The party let those members return to party activities.
More than 100 members are still suspended, and about 30 of them face serious charges.
The party says this shows that its warnings were not empty threats.
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made public details of disciplinary action taken against party insiders since the regime change in May.
Over 200 party insiders were served show-cause notices during May, June and July following complaints of corruption, extortion and other activities inappropriate with party policies.
Around 50 notices were served in the first three weeks after May 4, when the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared, marking the party's landslide victory.
Almost 50 per cent of the cases have been resolved, with some insiders apologising unconditionally and others submitting defence evidence, while over 100 remain under indefinite suspension.
About 30 of those still suspended face serious charges of corruption and extortion; state president Samik Bhattacharya was the first to raise the alarm, followed by Dilip Ghosh and Agnimitra Paul.
- Who
- The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its internal disciplinary committee, under state president Samik Bhattacharya.
- What
- The BJP disclosed disciplinary action, including show-cause notices and indefinite suspensions, taken against over 200 party insiders accused of corruption, extortion and other misconduct.
- Where
- West Bengal, India.
- When
- During May, June and July, with the first wave of around 50 notices served in the three weeks after May 4 election results were declared.
- Why
- To demonstrate the party's 'zero tolerance against corruption' and prove that leaders' warnings to errant insiders were not empty threats.
Key facts
- Party
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), West Bengal unit
- Show-cause notices issued
- Over 200 (May, June, July)
- Notices in first three weeks after May 4
- Around 50
- Cases resolved
- Almost 50 per cent
- Members still under indefinite suspension
- Over 100
- Members with serious corruption/extortion charges
- Around 30
- Election results declared
- May 4 (landslide BJP victory)
- Leaders who issued warnings
- Samik Bhattacharya, Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul
Quotes
BJP internal disciplinary committee member
Member of BJP West Bengal’s internal disciplinary committee
“"While some have apologised unconditionally after receiving the show‑cause letters, some have submitted evidence in their defence. The suspension has been withdrawn for them, and they have been reinstated in the organisational activities."”
thehansindia.com
“"Out of these 200 show‑cause notices, around 50 were served in the first three weeks after May 4, the date when the results of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections were declared, which marked our landslide victory."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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