Kolkata: The rift in the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was out in the open on Wednesday as Bishnupur MP Saumitra Khan resigned as the Yuva Morcha chief while taking Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to task for attempting to take credit for all achievements of the saffron party in the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-ruled state.
The former TMC leader, who joined the BJP earlier in 2018, however, did not cite any reason for this move. It is speculated that he is said to be upset over being denied a berth in the Union Cabinet.
Khan in a video posted on Facebook showered praises on the BJP central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said that he was relieving himself of the responsibility of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state unit “due to personal reasons”.
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“From today, due to personal reasons, I am relieving myself of the responsibility of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state unit. I was in BJP, I am in BJP, and will continue to be a part of it,” he said on Facebook.
Launching a vitriolic attack on Adhikari, the Bishnupur MP said that “one particular leader was making frequent trips to Delhi and claiming credit for every success of the party”.
“This leader of opposition in the state should look in the mirror. He is misleading the leaders of New Delhi. He considers himself the tallest leader of the party in Bengal,” he added.
Taking a jibe at West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, Khan said the former understands only half of what happens and added, “he cannot comprehend all of it”.
Asserting it is time for him to step down, Khan said that he has “never hankered for any post”.
The disgruntled Lok Sabha MP further said that “many politicians with dubious credentials had been inducted into the BJP before assembly polls”.
“Some of them were nominated and they failed to win the elections,” said Khan and added, “it appears only some people made sacrifices for the party and the rest had no contribution”.
Meanwhile, Adhikari downplayed Khan’s accusations.
“I will not comment. I will not take it seriously. He is my younger brother. I will go and have lunch at his residence in Delhi. I had campaigned for Saumitra Khan in Kotulpur in 2011. I wish him every success in his career,” PTI quoted Adhikari as saying.
“I shouldn’t talk on organisational matters. It will be decided by state president Dilip Ghosh,” he added while responding to a poser if the party will initiate any disciplinary action against the Bishnupur MP for his allegations.
The TMC too took potshots at Adhikari over the row with party state general secretary Kunal Ghosh stating “old and loyal members are bound to get upset” as he is now “cornering other leaders in the saffron party”.