West Bengal BJP president Dr. Sukanta Majumdar's recent request to the Centre to "include" the northern part of West Bengal with the "northeast" has ignited a political firestorm within the state.
The move has raised eyebrows and sent shockwaves across the political spectrum, reinforcing longstanding sentiments of neglect among residents of north Bengal regarding development and infrastructure.
Majumdar's assertion that "north Bengal can be included into the northeast" is based on a presentation he delivered to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outlining the similarities between the northern region and the northeast.
He argued that such a merger could lead to increased funding for development projects through various central schemes, suggesting that the area's backwardness necessitated this inclusion.
“I don’t think the state government will have any objections, and that they will also cooperate,” he stated, highlighting the potential benefits of this move.
The implications of Majumdar's request are significant, especially as it resonates with a widely held perception among the residents of north Bengal—comprising districts like Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda—that they have been sidelined in terms of resources and attention compared to the more developed southern parts of the state, particularly Kolkata.
Political backlash and TMC's counterattack
The proposal has been met with fierce opposition from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has accused the BJP of attempting to sow discord and division within the state.
The TMC's response has been swift and vehement, labelling Majumdar's suggestion as "anti-Bengal" and asserting that it undermines the integrity of West Bengal.
The party's veteran Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray condemned the proposal as a “secessionist move” that violates constitutional norms.
He highlighted that “north Bengal is an integral part of West Bengal,” and described the BJP's initiative as an “evil design” to bifurcate the state amid its electoral struggles.
Within the BJP, however, opinions appear divided. While some leaders have rallied around Majumdar, insisting his remarks have been misinterpreted, others have openly supported the idea of a bifurcation.
Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the merger proposal as "false propaganda," reiterating the party's commitment to the overall development of West Bengal while maintaining its geographical boundaries.
Contrastingly, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista contended that Majumdar’s comments reflect the sentiments of the people in north Bengal.
He highlighted the cultural and geographical affinities shared between north Bengal and the North East, arguing for serious consideration of the merger to rectify the historical neglect of the region in budget allocations.
“The TMC has always looted north Bengal,” Bista claimed, echoing the frustrations of constituents who feel their needs have been overlooked.
Historical context and separatist movements
The suggestion of merging north Bengal with the North East is fraught with the potential for backlash, particularly given the region's tumultuous history of separatist movements.
The Gorkhaland agitation in the Darjeeling hills has long sought a separate state for the non-Bengali Nepali-speaking Gorkha community, while the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) has demanded a separate state for the Koch Rajbanshi community by carving out portions from West Bengal and Assam.
The BJP has strategically capitalised on the support from both the Gorkha and Rajbongshi communities, successfully winning the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat for four consecutive terms since 2009 and securing its first victory in Coochbehar in 2019.
Out of the 12 Lok Sabha seats the BJP claimed in West Bengal during the recent elections, six were from north Bengal, underscoring the party's growing influence in the region.
However, the BJP has struggled to penetrate the southern part of West Bengal, often seen as a stronghold for the TMC.
While the TMC secured 29 seats in the recent elections, it only managed to win a single seat in north Bengal, highlighting the stark political divide within the state.
TMC's strategy and regional sentiments
In recent years, the TMC has positioned itself as the protector of "Bengal’s interests," effectively mobilising regional sentiments to counter the BJP's appeal.
The party has run campaigns highlighting a sense of Bengali identity, such as "Bangla Nijer Mekei Chay" (Bengal wants its own daughter as chief minister) during the 2021 Assembly polls, and has consistently framed the BJP as outsiders threatening Bengal’s integrity.
This narrative has resonated deeply with the majority Bengali-speaking population, many of whom recall the painful legacies of partition that have historically shaped their collective identity.
Majumdar’s remarks align seamlessly with the TMC’s narrative, further inflaming anxieties over potential divisions within the state.
The TMC has effectively utilised Bengali sub-nationalism to forge a strong emotional connection with voters, framing leaders like Amit Shah and even PM Modi as "Bohiragoto" or outsiders.
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