3 weeks ago

Rival votes elect BJP leader samiti head, Malda rift surfaces

Rival votes elect BJP leader samiti head, Malda rift surfaces
‘Rivals’ vote for BJP leader as samiti head, party rift surfaces in Malda - Telegraph India · telegraphindia.com

In a place called Kaliachak, a group of grown-ups had to choose a new leader for their village council.

Three teams were in the race: the BJP team, the Trinamool team, and the Congress team.

The old leader, Anjali, had to stop her job because she was sick.

The Congress team chose Beauty as its candidate for the new leader.

But many members of the Trinamool team and two members of the Congress team voted for Alok, who is on the BJP team.

Alok won, even though he was not his own team's official choice.

Some leaders in Alok's team were angry because they had told him not to run and not to ask other teams for help.

Alok said the other teams insisted that he run, and he promised to quit if his team wanted him to.

Right now, the leaders are still talking about what to do next.

Key facts

Samiti
Kaliachak-II panchayat samiti, Malda district
Elected head
Alok Mandal (BJP)
Previous head
Anjali Mandal (Trinamool), resigned citing health
2023 seat tally
Trinamool 13, Congress 11, BJP 2 of 26 seats
Congress candidate
Beauty Mandal
Backing for Alok
All 13 Trinamool members and 2 Congress members
Absent BJP member
Nibaran Ghosh
State context
BJP came to power in West Bengal this year

Quotes

Nibaran Ghosh

BJP Assembly candidate from Mothabari constituency

““There was a clear directive from the party that we would not contest the sabhapati election as we did not have the required numbers. The leadership had also directed us not to seek support from Trinamool or Congress. Unfortunately, some leaders had a hidden deal with these two parties and they acted against the party’s stand.””
telegraphindia.com
““The Trinamool and some Congress members insisted that I contest against the official Congress candidate. If the party wants me to step down, I will abide by its decision.””
telegraphindia.com

Sources

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