The BJP has fielded Rajbanshi leader from Chakchaka in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar Ananta Maharaj for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. Ananta Rai 'Maharaj' heads one of the factions of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA), which has been demanding that a separate state of 'Greater Cooch Behar' be carved out of West Bengal.
Ananta Rai, who proclaims himself as the "maharaja" of the Rajbanshi community, has been advocating for the creation of a separate Greater Cooch Behar state or Union territory by dividing a portion of Bengal.
The BJP made significant strides in north Bengal during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and maintained its strong performance in the region during the 2021 assembly polls. According to The Times Of India, this success came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Ananta Maharaj in Bongaigaon, Assam, in 2019.
After the 2021 assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee worked on establishing a rapport with Ananta Maharaj. She shared a platform with him during the October Bijoya Sammilani meeting in North Bengal in 2022, even though she voiced opposition to any attempts to divide Bengal. Banerjee also extended her wishes and sent gifts to Ananta Maharaj on the occasion of Bhai Phonta, according to the TOI report.
Previously, the Chief Minister had also shared the stage with Ananta Maharaj during the 512th birth anniversary celebrations of Raja Chila Ray. Leading up to the panchayat polls, leaders from both the BJP and Trinamool sought the support of the Rajbanshi leader. However, Ananta Maharaj remained steadfast in his demand for a separate Greater Cooch Behar state, the TOI report stated.
On Monday, the Trinamool Congress announced the candidature of Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Samirul Islam, Prakash Chik Baraik and Saket Gokhale for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Six Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal will fall vacant.
O'Brien is the TMC's leader in Rajya Sabha, while Ray is the deputy chief whip. The newcomers on the list are Bangla Sanskriti Mancha president Samirul Islam, TMC's Alipurduar district president Prakash Chik Baraik, and RTI activist and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale.
A seventh Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal is also vacant after former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro resigned as a TMC MP in April. A bypoll will be held in that seat.
The election for ten Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat, Goa, and West Bengal will take place on July 24, according to the Election Commission of India. Bengal sends a total of 16 members to Rajya Sabha. This year, seven seats will be up for grabs.
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