With Tripura in its bag, BJP eyes Bengal

Kolkata: After BJP’s historic win in the Tripura Assembly elections, the party’s West Bengal unit on Saturday said that the party is emerging as an alternative to the ruling Trinamul Congress in the state.

Taking a potshot at chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent comments that a victory by the CPI(M) in Tripura would make her happy, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Saturday said that the BJP would bring change to the state by defeating the Trinamul Congress.

“It is true that the CPI-M has lost in Tripura. But I am sure Mamata Banerjee is more grieved than they are, with the result,” Mr Ghosh said.

“Ms Banerjee suffered more pain than the CPI(M) workers did over their party’s defeat in Tripura. She wants to keep the CPI(M) alive. She will have to suffer more. The people of Bengal certainly will repose their faith in us. Change will also come here. We are trying to build our organisation here. Our central leaders keep a tab on us. They also cooperate. A change is going to take place here in next six months,” the state BJP president said.

Mr Ghosh added that the BJP’s win in Tripura will surely impact state politics and predicted a “sea change” in Bengal’s political scenario in six months.

“Such a landslide victory by the BJP in the Assembly elections in Tripura will affect West Bengal from the panchayat elections. We have started it from the Assembly elections. The effect has been felt in all the bypolls. In the municipality elections, we have to the second position despite massive rigging. The people of Bengal want the BJP here. They are with us,” Mr Ghosh said.

“It is the people who have brought about the change in Tripura. They will bring about the change in Bengal too,” he added.

“But those who are in power have become an obstruction. We have removed big obstacles in the country. If change can happen from Gujarat to Tripura, then West Bengal falls in between.” Bantering the chief minister’s comments he said, “I feel sad that we can not make her happy. She wanted CPI(M) to win which would have made her happy,” the Kharagpur MLA said.

Another BJP leader Mukul Roy said, “The Tripura Assembly polls results will leave its huge impact in the state. The chief minister said she would be happy to see CPI(M)’s victory. So she will have to shoulder the CPI(M)’s defeat also.” The ruling Trinamul however feels otherwise. Its secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, “The Tripura polls result is the reflection of the anger of the people there against the CPI(M).”

“The CPI(M) maintained its silence against the massive use of money, the sources and force by the BJP. They never imagined they would need the anti-BJP forces’ support to fight the BJP. The CPI(M)’s arrogance and the BJP’s use of power led to this result. So those who have started beating drums here with enthusiasm should not be excited because the polls results in Tripura will not leave any impact here. Our party never expected to fare well in the polls there because the person who was entrusted betrayed by joining hands with the BJP,” he added.

However, the ruling Trinamul Congress termed the election result in Tripura as “more of a defeat of CPI-M’s pride than a victory of BJP’s organisational strength” and claimed the results will have no impact in Bengal.

“This is CPI-M’s defeat. The anger of the people of Tripura towards the CPI-M has been reflected through ballot. But those who are celebrating Bharatiya Janata Party’s success in Tripura do not need to be too enthusiastic about it in Bengal,” Trinamul Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said.