The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday issued showcause notice to two senior leaders in West Bengal for publicly opposing the possible entry of Trinamool legislator and chief of Asansol corporation Jitendra Tiwari into the party. The notice was issued to party general secretary Sayantan Basu and chief of women cell of the party Agnimitra Paul.
Tiwari had last week rebelled against the Trinamool Congress and resigned from all party posts and from the post of the corporation chief, just a couple of days ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s much-hyped visit to the state.
Basu and Paul, along with another party leader Babul Supriyo, had raised their voice soon after they sensed that Tiwari might be heading towards the saffron party. “I would try everything possible to check Tiwari’s entry. He was ruthless to us being a TMC leader,” Supriyo, a Union minister and local MP of Asansol, had said.
“Yes, he (Supriyo) is right. We need to guard ourselves against such leaders,” Basu said.
Paul said, “I have been receiving several calls from our party workers asking us not to entertain such entry into our party. He should not be taken as our workers suffered a lot.”
Amid criticism, Tiwari said, “I know being a TMC leader, a lot of blames would be thrust on me. But not all were my fault.”
Amit Shah had not taken the resenting voices lightly as he said at a press meet: “Whatever the leaders saying was their personal views and not the party’s.”
After returning t0 Delhi, Shah discussed the matter with party’s general secretaries (Organisation) as party president J.P. Nadda was sick following COVID-19 infection.
The party later decided to issue showcause notice to two party leaders who are holding organisation post.
“According to our party organisation, general secretary and Morcha unit president should talk with caution. MPs and ministers are accountable to the prime minister and the government. But will never allow general secretary and Morcha head talking like this without consulting party leadership,” said a senior BJP organiser in West Bengal.
Tiwari was figured in the list of leaders joining the BJP during Shah’s visit but he was not present at the event following this resentment.
Neither Basu nor Paul has made any comment about the showcause notice so far.
Party president Dilip Ghosh told the newsmen in Kolkata: “Law is same for everyone—from a new comer to the senior leaders who are serving party for over four decades. They have been asked to explain why they said this openly.”
Tiwari refused to say anything as he went back to the TMC.
“I can only say I would work for people of Asansol. For that I am ready to do coordination with local MP and prime minister.” said he claimed he is now with the TMC.
