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Bengal BJP 'revolts' against central leadership's pact with Mamata

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

The Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal unit today plunged into one of its worst-ever crises over the seat sharing arrangement with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress for next month's Calcutta municipal election. The state BJP has decided not to contest the civic poll.

Though both the BJP's central leaders and Banerjee claimed on Saturday that they had resolved the impasse over the distribution of seats amicably, the Bengal BJP has virtually revolted against the high command.

Many party leaders have minced no words in resenting Delhi's deal with the Trinamul supremo. So much so that former Bengal BJP president and Union minister of state for telecommunications Tapan Sikdar has decided not to put up any candidate at all in the 23 seats offered by the Trinamul Congress.

According to a highly reliable source, Sikdar has instead asked state BJP leaders to field candidates only in the two seats -- 22 and 42 wards -- where the party already has its elected representatives.

This decision was taken during a specially convened meeting at Sikdar's Dum Dum home on Sunday morning. Sikdar, however, refused to describe the developments as a revolt and added that he was merely trying to apprise the high command about the growing displeasure among BJP workers over Banerjee's arbitrary attitude on sharing municipal seats.

Before leaving for North Bengal, Sikdar told rediff.com, "I have never vied for numbers so far as the distribution of seats was concerned. What has greatly perturbed us is the quality of seats offered by the Trinamul chief. I reiterate my earlier stand that the BJP only wanted some seats where there was some scope of winning. Arithmetic really doesn't matter to us."

State BJP leaders, apparently exasperated over what they called the Trinamul Congress's arbitrary act, had earlier threatened to sever ties with the latter if they were not given at least 45 seats.

Upset by the BJP's threats, Banerjee reportedly warned of pulling out of the NDA government. Her ploy paid desirable dividends as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee intervened to end the crisis.

The BJP's central leadership summoned West Bengal leaders to New Delhi to discuss the situation on Saturday. In a marathon meeting with party president Kushabhau Thakre and three Bengal leaders -- Rahul Sinha, P D Chitlangia and Shantilal Jain -- it was decided that the BJP would contest the 23 seats.

However, according to Jain, it was only after Vajpayee intervened that a consensus could be reached and Banerjee agreed to give four more seats to the BJP.

This decision irked party leaders who decided to defy the high command's order. Even senior leaders like Kailashpati Mishra's attempts to pacify the disgruntled elements proved futile. Sources said Tripathi faced stiff opposition from Sikdar who argued that it was better not to contest the election at all than putting up candidates in 'unfavourable' seats.

Some leaders including state party president Asim Ghosh and Jain suggested that candidates be put up in at least two seats where the BJP already had its councillors, 'to respect Vajpayeeji's intervention.'

The last date for filing nominations is May 25, while the election to 141 municipal seats will be held on June 27.

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