New West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar calls for unity amid defections to TMC

At a time when the BJP is grappling with defections and in-fighting in West Bengal coupled with post-poll violence, its newly appointed state unit chief Sukanta Majumdar has his work cut out for him.
A first-time MP from Balurghat, Majumdar, who has replaced Dilip Ghosh, is acutely aware of the challenges. With defections bringing down the number of MLAs to 71 from 77, Majumdar admitted on Tuesday that the party is going through "difficult times". He requested the leaders and legislators not to leave the party under intimidation or any other provocation. He also urged all the MPs and MLAs to fight together. "This is a party with an ideology and some leaders may leave the party but the workers are always with it. The party will try to fight defection, and workers are our asset," said Majumdar.

"If some people think that by leaving the BJP they will finish the party, it won't happen. If we have committed any mistake, we would rectify it and move forward," said Majumdar, who has a PhD in botany.

Slamming the Mamata Banerjee-led government, Majumdar said his party will continue to fight against the "Taliban" state government and prevent West Bengal from "becoming Afghanistan".

Meanwhile, in another development, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to stay summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife, Rujira, in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged coal smuggling scandal in West Bengal.