Discontent brews in BJP over candidate selection in Bengal's Kharagpur Sadar seat

Known for its cosmopolitan population, the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s West Medinipur district has turned out to be a prestige fight for both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

It was with his surprise victory over 10-time-Congress MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal in the 2016 Assembly elections, BJP State President Dilip Ghosh stormed into the political scene of West Bengal.

After Ghosh became an MP from the Medinipur seat in the last Lok Sabha elections, TMC wrested the seat from the BJP in the 2019 Assembly by-elections even as the BJP had a lead of 45,132 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections.

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However, this time despite demands from within the party, the BJP leadership chose to field actor and TMC turncoat Hiran Chatterjee from Kharagpur Sadar. BJP sources said that the decision has not gone down well with a significant section of local party leaders and workers.

“They feel that if Ghosh was fielded from Kharagpur Sadar, then it would have been a major boost for the State BJP. A section of party workers and leaders are also wondering if four sitting MPs have been fielded in the Assembly elections, then why not Ghosh and are worried that the decision may cost the party dearly in Kharagpur Sadar,” a senior State BJP leader said.

Speaking under conditions of anonymity, a local resident of the Rail Colony of Kharagpur said that the BJP candidate has very little ground-level connection in the constituency contrary to the TMC candidate Pradip Sarkar, who is a familiar face among voters.

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“It would have been different if the BJP fielded Ghosh. I think the TMC candidate has an edge this time,” he told DH.

According to State BJP sources, party leaders close to Ghosh are of the opinion that since he is not contesting in the Assembly elections, he would not be a direct candidate for the Chief Minister’s post in case BJP comes to power in Bengal.

“Like the last Lok Sabha elections I never expressed any desire to be a candidate this time to the party leadership,” said Ghosh.

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The BJP leadership is heavily banking on the support of nearly 50% of non-Bengali voters in the constituency.

“There may be some discontent regarding the candidate selection. But it is nothing major. People will still vote for the BJP. The support of non-Bengali voters for BJP here can never be ignored,” said BJP leader Tushar Mukhopadhyay.

TMC, on the other hand, has made development and discontent against the Centre over fuel price hike its main poll plank.