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BJP Rejects NCPI Tie-Up for Bengal Civic Polls
The BJP says it will fight West Bengal’s upcoming city elections by itself.
It does not want to join former TMC leaders who now belong to the NCPI.
The NCPI says it may still work with the BJP because both are connected through the national NDA alliance.
BJP leaders in Bengal say local elections are different from national politics.
They also worry that joining former TMC leaders could upset BJP workers.
The BJP plans to campaign on corruption and basic city services such as roads, drainage, water and waste collection.
Kolkata and Howrah may get more municipal wards after the boundaries are changed.
The elections are expected to be held after Durga Puja and completed by December 7.
The BJP plans to contest Kolkata and Howrah municipal elections independently, rejecting an alliance with former TMC leaders in the NCPI.
The NCPI says its participation in the BJP-led NDA makes a civic-election understanding with the BJP possible.
The BJP says it wants to rely on its own organisation and avoid confusing workers who previously fought the former TMC leaders.
Kolkata’s wards are proposed to increase from 144 to 209, while Howrah’s would rise from 50 to 68 through delimitation.
The State Election Commission has indicated that the civic elections, including Kolkata and Howrah, should be completed by December 7.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, the Nationalist Citizens Party of India, the Trinamool Congress, the Left and the Congress are involved in the expected contests.
- What
- The BJP has decided to contest the Kolkata and Howrah municipal elections alone rather than form an alliance with the NCPI.
- Where
- Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal.
- When
- The elections are expected after the Durga Puja festivities and are to be completed by December 7; the final delimitation proposals are due by the second week of September.
- Why
- The BJP wants to build its own organisation, avoid alienating workers who fought former TMC leaders, and use its electoral confidence and the expected multi-cornered contest to expand its position.
BJP’s Independent Contest
NCPI’s Alliance Position
Whether to form an alliance
BJP’s Independent Contest
The West Bengal BJP says there is no alliance partner in the state and that it will rely on its own leaders, workers and organisation.
NCPI’s Alliance Position
The NCPI says it is a major member of the BJP-led NDA and believes an alliance with the BJP for the civic elections remains possible.
Relationship with former TMC leaders
BJP’s Independent Contest
BJP leaders say many NCPI members are former TMC leaders whom BJP workers previously opposed, including in conflicts that caused deaths, and that cooperation could send the wrong message.
NCPI’s Alliance Position
The NCPI presents its parliamentary association with the NDA as a basis for cooperation despite its members’ former affiliation with the TMC.
Delimitation process
BJP’s Independent Contest
The BJP sees the proposed ward reorganisation as an opportunity to expand its footprint and test its booth-level strength.
NCPI’s Alliance Position
The TMC says it is prepared for the elections but alleges that delimitation based on voters rather than population could give the BJP an advantage.
Key facts
- BJP position
- The party says it will contest the Kolkata and Howrah civic elections independently.
- Potential NCPI alliance
- The NCPI says an electoral understanding with the BJP remains possible because of its association with the BJP-led NDA in Parliament.
- Kolkata ward proposal
- The number of Kolkata Municipal Corporation wards is proposed to increase from 144 to 209.
- Howrah ward proposal
- The number of Howrah Municipal Corporation wards is proposed to increase from 50 to 68.
- Election timetable
- The State Election Commission has indicated that the civic elections should be completed by December 7.
- BJP campaign themes
- The BJP is expected to focus on corruption, roads, drainage, waste management, drinking water, street lighting and urban infrastructure.
- Howrah civic administration
- Howrah has not had an elected civic board for years.
Quotes
Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar
NCPI MP and prominent party leader
“We are the largest coalition member of the BJP-led NDA and will contest the civic polls as members of the alliance. For that, we will have to form an alliance with the BJP. We will take a decision when the election approaches, but there is every possibility there will be a coalition”
indianexpress.com
“We are prepared and will get good results. However, we have strong reservations about the delimitation process. It should have been done on the basis of population. But it is being done on the basis of voters to give BJP an advantage”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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