3 weeks ago
Rival votes elect BJP leader samiti head, Malda rift surfaces
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.
Alok Mandal of the BJP was elected head of Kaliachak-II panchayat samiti with support from Trinamool Congress and Congress members.
The election on Tuesday filled a vacancy created when Trinamool's Anjali Mandal resigned last month citing health reasons.
BJP colleague Nibaran Ghosh, who was absent, said the contest broke a party directive and alleged a 'hidden deal' with rival parties.
District BJP president Ajay Ganguly called the election a 'gross violation' of the state leadership's directive.
Alok said rivals insisted he contest and he will step down if the party asks; a Trinamool MLA said the members made the decision.
- Who
- Alok Mandal, a BJP member, who was elected sabhapati of Kaliachak-II panchayat samiti against his party's directive; party colleagues Nibaran Ghosh and Ajay Ganguly objected.
- What
- An internal rift in the Malda BJP after Alok Mandal became head of Kaliachak-II panchayat samiti with cross-party support from Trinamool Congress and Congress members.
- Where
- Kaliachak-II panchayat samiti in Malda district, West Bengal.
- When
- On Tuesday, about a month after the post fell vacant when Anjali Mandal resigned; no specific date is given in the article.
- Why
- The party leadership had directed BJP members not to contest or seek support from rival parties, but Alok contested and won, prompting accusations of a 'hidden deal'.
BJP Leadership Stance
Alok Mandal and Trinamool Stance
Party directive violation
BJP Leadership Stance
The contest was a gross violation of the state leadership's directive not to seek support from Trinamool or Congress, and involved a 'hidden deal' with the rival parties.
Alok Mandal and Trinamool Stance
Trinamool and some Congress members insisted that Alok contest against the official Congress candidate; Alok said he will step down if the party wants him to.
Response to the rift
BJP Leadership Stance
Nibaran Ghosh called for such leaders to be expelled from the party, and district president Ajay Ganguly expressed strong disapproval of the election.
Alok Mandal and Trinamool Stance
Trinamool MLA Mohammad Najrul Islam downplayed the development, saying it was a decision taken by elected panchayat samity members and that the party would talk to them.
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










