Kolkata, Aug. 5 -- Despite repeated assurances from the BJP's top leadership that the party would not allow "Trinamoolization" and would maintain a zero-tolerance policy against syndicate culture, a series of alleged extortion and misconduct cases involving party workers has raised uncomfortable questions about the implementation of that message on the ground.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya had recently asserted that the BJP would not emulate the practices it has long accused the TMC of fostering, while Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly warned against syndicate raj.
However, incidents reported from different parts of West Bengal suggest that allegations of extortion and intimidation continue to surface.
The issue has become a matter of concern for the party's central leadership. According to sources, the situation was discussed in New Delhi on Tuesday when Bhattacharya met Adhikari and BJP's central observer for West Bengal, Sunil Bansal.
Senior leaders are understood to have expressed concern over the growing influence of "unwarranted elements" entering the party, particularly at the grassroots level. A revamp of the BJP's district-level organisational structure is also expected soon.
In a parallel disciplinary exercise, the state BJP has suspended 22 party workers following complaints of misconduct. The party has also served show-cause notices to nearly 250 workers and activists. Sources said those suspended failed to provide satisfactory explanations to the disciplinary committee.
Among the recent incidents, a BJP leader from Jamuria, Rakesh Maji, was arrested after a video allegedly showed him extorting money from a sand-laden truck. In Dum Dum, promoter Amar Nath Singh alleged that a group of men assaulted him, vandalised his office and demanded Rs 5 lakh. Singh claimed the accused were newly inducted BJP workers who had been pressuring him for over two weeks. Dum Dum BJP MLA Arijit Bakshi said the police had been asked to take strict action irrespective of political affiliation.
In Behala, BJP leader Tuhin Pal was accused of demanding money from a developer in the name of "party funds". The party later suspended him after issuing a show-cause notice.
Meanwhile, photographs and videos purportedly showing two BJP leaders from Basirhat seated before bundles of cash triggered a political row in North 24-Parganas.
While the authenticity of the visuals remains unverified, the episode has further intensified scrutiny over the party's internal discipline as the leadership seeks to tighten control ahead of upcoming organisational changes.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.