BJP faces internal dissent over candidate selection in South Dinajpur

BALURGHAT: Internal discord has surfaced within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in South Dinajpur district after a senior tribal leader announced his decision to contest the upcoming Assembly elections as an Independent candidate, defying the party’s official line.

Sushil Mardi, the district president of the BJP’s ST Morcha, has declared his candidature from the crucial Balurghat Assembly Constituency, expressing strong dissatisfaction over the party’s choice of nominee.

The development comes in the wake of the denial of a ticket to sitting BJP MLA Ashok Lahiri, with the party instead fielding Bidyut Roy, a relatively new entrant to the party’s fold.

The situation has added a new dimension to the political landscape in South Dinajpur, just weeks ahead of the Assembly elections.

Mardi made the announcement during a press conference held after a closed-door meeting with party workers at a private lodge in Balurghat. Indicating that his decision was driven by grassroots sentiment, Mardi asserted that a large section of local workers felt overlooked in the selection process.

“I will contest as an Independent candidate because the voices of dedicated grassroots workers have been ignored. However, I remain committed to the ideology and principles of the BJP, which I have upheld for years,” Mardi said. He further added: “This is not a rebellion against ideology but a protest against the way candidate selection has been handled in the district.”

He also confirmed that he would file his nomination papers on April 4, setting the stage for a potentially triangular contest in the Constituency.

The announcement has triggered considerable unrest within the district BJP unit, with visible signs of factionalism emerging ahead of the polls. Political observers believe the move could impact the party’s electoral prospects in the region.

Reacting sharply to Mardi’s decision, BJP district president Swarup Chowdhury maintained that the party follows a structured and collective decision-making process. “Candidate selection is a decision taken by the party leadership after careful consideration. Personal preferences or grievances have no place in such matters,” Chowdhury said.

He further warned of disciplinary action, stating: “We have informed the state leadership about the development. Strict action, including expulsion, may be taken against Sushil Mardi for indulging in anti-

party activities.”