The political landscape of West Bengal has been thrown into turmoil following a controversial proposal for the bifurcation of the state. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has formally submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting the incorporation of north Bengal into the Northeast.
The move has ignited fierce debates and sharp reactions across the political spectrum.
Majumdar's proposal, presented during a recent meeting with the Prime Minister, argues that north Bengal would benefit significantly from Central government schemes if it were part of the Northeast region.
“I met the PM and submitted a proposal to incorporate north Bengal with the Northeast. It is up to the PM now to decide on this. But if north Bengal is incorporated with the Northeast, the region will benefit from the Central government schemes,” Majumdar stated on Wednesday.
He argued that the bifurcation would enable north Bengal to receive the focused attention from the Centre, which, according to him, has been lacking due to neglect by the state government.
The proposal, however, has not been received well by all quarters. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has vehemently opposed the idea, labeling it a conspiracy to divide the state.
TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, in a strongly worded statement, called it a “secessionist move on the part of a Union minister.”
He accused Majumdar of violating his oath of office under the Constitution.
“North Bengal is an integral part of West Bengal. Even the PM has no power to accept such unconstitutional and illegal demands. This is an evil design of the BJP to bifurcate West Bengal as the party has been suffering humiliating defeats in all elections since 2011,” he asserted.
The debate over the separation of north Bengal is not new. The BJP’s proposal follows its significant defeat in the 2021 assembly elections, which led to several party leaders, including former Union minister and ex-MP from Alipurduars, John Barla, advocating for the creation of a Union Territory comprising the districts of north Bengal.
The north Bengal region
North Bengal, a region comprising eight districts—Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Maldah, Alipurduar, and Kalimpong—is characterised by its diverse ethnic composition.
The region shares borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, and its demographic mosaic has been shaped by colonial history, the growth of the tea industry, and the Partition of 1947.
The population, according to the 2011 census, stands at approximately 1.7 crore.
The ethnic groups in the region include the Rajbansis, Koches, Gorkhas, and adivasis, many of whom have historically supported movements for separate statehood, such as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP).
Statehood demand and political movements
The call for a separate state of north Bengal gained momentum in 2021 when BJP MP from Alipurduar, John Barla, raised the issue. While BJP state unit leaders distanced the party from Barla’s statement, the demand resonated with various regional organizations.
Barla had remarked, “The creation of a separate state of north Bengal is the voice of the people of this region. I will raise the issue at the appropriate level.”
In response to growing support, the United Front for Separate State was formed, comprising nine organisations, including the Kamtapur Progressive Party, the GJM (Bimal Gurung), the Kamtapur People’s Party (United), the Joy Birsa Munda Ulgulan, the SC/ST Movement Committee, the Progressive Peoples Party, the Akhil Bharatiya Rajbanshi Samaj, the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association, and the Bhumiputra Unnayan Committee.
This coalition aims to press for the statehood demand, envisioning a separate state that includes eight districts, eight Lok Sabha constituencies, and 54 Assembly segments.
Historical context of statehood movements
The demand for a separate state in north Bengal is rooted in multiple historical movements for autonomy. The Gorkhaland movement, initiated by Subhash Ghisingh’s Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) in the 1980s, sought a separate state for the Gorkhas.
This movement was later revitalised by Bimal Gurung's Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), leading to a 104-day shutdown in Darjeeling in 2017 marked by violent agitation.
Similarly, the Kamtapur movement, driven by the SC community known as Koch Rajbanshis in Cooch Behar, advocated for a separate state comprising parts of north Bengal and Assam, as well as regions in Bihar and Nepal.
The Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), an armed militant group, spearheaded this demand in the mid-1990s.
However, the movement lost momentum in the early 2000s due to a leadership crisis and the arrest of key leaders.
The Greater Cooch Behar movement, led by the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association (GCPA) under Bangshi Badan Barman, called for a separate state encompassing parts of north Bengal and Assam.
Despite limited support from political parties, the movement highlighted regional grievances and aspirations for autonomy.
Current political dynamics
The recent proposal by Sukanta Majumdar has rekindled these historical aspirations, aligning with the BJP’s strategy to address regional discontent and capitalise on local support.
Majumdar, along with other BJP leaders such as Ananta Rai ‘Maharaj’ and MoS for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik, have been vocal proponents of north Bengal’s statehood.
Rai, who leads a faction of the GCPA and has a history of advocating for a separate state, has intensified his demands following post-poll violence in West Bengal after the 2021 assembly elections.
Pramanik, emphasising the region’s lack of development, pointed out disparities in government allocations, stating that the budget for infrastructure projects in Kolkata far exceeds those for north Bengal.
He stressed, “In democracy, people are the most important factor, and keeping in mind people’s sentiments, an appropriate decision will be taken.”
BJP Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has also expressed support for the demand for Gorkhaland, asserting that the solution lies within the constitutional framework and that the Gorkhas deserve justice.
The BJP’s statehood proposal comes as part of its broader electoral strategy, with promises of bifurcation or trifurcation of the state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The move is further being analysed as an attempt to address regional grievances and consolidate support in north Bengal, where the party has faced electoral setbacks.
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