Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Cooch Behar MP Faces Protests After Returning Home
Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia is a member of Parliament from Cooch Behar.
He came back to his home in Sitai after staying away for some time.
Some local residents and BJP supporters protested when they heard he had arrived.
They were unhappy about his political history and short earlier visits.
Basunia has moved between several political parties and now says he belongs to the NCPI.
He also said the NCPI supports the NDA government.
Later, a Trinamool Congress office in Sitai was damaged and set on fire.
Nobody had been identified as responsible for the fire when the report was published.
Police began investigating and increased security near Basunia’s home.
NCPI MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia returned to his Sitai home under police security on Sunday morning.
Residents, including BJP supporters, protested over his political switches and previous brief visits home.
Basunia said he had left the Trinamool Congress and was supporting the NDA government through the NCPI.
The Sitai Trinamool Congress office was later vandalised and set on fire; responsibility remained unclear.
Police and central security forces were deployed at Basunia’s home, while an investigation into the fire began.
- Who
- Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, Cooch Behar’s MP; local residents, BJP supporters and police were also involved.
- What
- Basunia faced protests after returning to his Sitai home, followed by the vandalism and burning of a Trinamool Congress office.
- When
- Sunday; the office fire occurred later that afternoon.
- Where
- Sitai in Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
- Why
- Protesters cited anger over Basunia’s political changes and conduct during the Trinamool Congress period; the reason for the office fire was not established.
Protesters’ and BJP Critics’ View
Basunia’s and BJP Spokesperson’s View
Reason for the protest
Protesters’ and BJP Critics’ View
Residents and BJP supporters said they were angry about Basunia’s political record, frequent changes of affiliation and previous brief stays at home.
Basunia’s and BJP Spokesperson’s View
Basunia said people mistakenly believed he was still with the Trinamool Congress and stated that he was now with the NCPI, which supports the NDA government.
Political significance
Protesters’ and BJP Critics’ View
A protester alleged that Basunia was trying to join the BJP and said demonstrators wanted to prevent his induction.
Basunia’s and BJP Spokesperson’s View
BJP district spokesperson Subhasish Choudhury described the demonstration as a spontaneous local outburst rather than a political event and said the party did not know who was behind the fire.
Trinamool Congress office fire
Protesters’ and BJP Critics’ View
The office was vandalised and set on fire after the protest, prompting police action.
Basunia’s and BJP Spokesperson’s View
Responsibility for the fire was not established, and BJP’s district spokesperson said his party had no knowledge of who was responsible.
- Politician
- Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia
- Constituency
- Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat
- Current affiliation
- NCPI, according to Basunia
- Previous affiliation
- He won the seat on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2024.
- Earlier political history
- Basunia began with the Forward Bloc, later joined the Trinamool Congress, and subsequently joined the NCPI.
- Security
- Police personnel and central security forces were posted at his home.
- Investigation
- Police began probing the vandalism and fire at the Sitai Trinamool Congress office.