Who will seize the political space on the island of Sandeshkhali? The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a tussle over it at this time as the Lok Sabha elections near.
West Bengal’s ruling TMC appears to be on the back foot with allegations of sexual exploitation, land grabbing, and violence by its leaders including block president Shahjahan Sheikh, and two of the accused, Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, behind bars.
Several locals told News18 that they voted for the TMC but were now having second thoughts. So, political observers say, this could be an opportunity for the BJP to step in.
Leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar are already on the job. Suvendu entered Sandeshkhali on his third attempt after a court order in his favour, and was welcomed by the women there. They showered him with flowers and greeted him with garlands.
The locals wanted to take him to their homes and tell their stories. The BJP leader spent about two hours on the island.
Speaking to News18, a woman from Sandeshkhali who met Suvendu said, “We voted for Didi (chief minister Mamata Banerjee) but we did not get justice. This leader came. If he helps us, if he brings back peace, then we will see.”
Suvendu visited several homes and tried to address the concerns of the villagers. “We will fight together, don’t worry; we are always with you.”
As he was leaving the island, many women came with him up to his boat.
Not just Suvendu; the entire Bengal BJP unit as well as leaders from Delhi are also focusing on Sandeshkhali.
The party plans to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to nearby Barasat on March 7, sources said.
They added that the BJP wants to raise the issue in all the constituencies of Bengal and gain votes.
The island is only one block in the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, and, observers say, whether this discontent will affect the election outcome here remains to be seen. TMC’s Nusrat Jahan is the MP from Basirhat after winning the seat in 2019.
Trinamool is engaged in aggressive damage control exercises, both through the party and the state government. Party leaders have accused the BJP of making fake allegations and trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Sandeshkhali.
Three senior ministers visited the area and tried to compensate some villagers who had alleged that their land had been seized by Shibaprasad Hazra.
Minister Partha Bhowmick told the locals, “We are requesting all of you to come forward and say who is owed money. We will collect funds from party leaders and pay you back.”
The TMC also plans to hold a big rally in Sandeshkhali on March 3 and has already started a door-to-door campaign for this.
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