Dr. Sukanta Majumdar's request to the Centre to integrate North Bengal with the North East has created significant political turmoil in West Bengal. Historically, residents of North Bengal have felt overlooked in terms of development and infrastructure compared to Kolkata and its neighboring southern regions. Majumdar, the Bengal BJP president, highlighted the similarities between North Bengal and the North East and proposed that such integration would bring more central funds and development opportunities to the region.
Majumdar, who also serves as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region, emphasized that including North Bengal in the Northeast would aid its development. He expressed confidence that the state government would cooperate with this proposal. Majumdar's move appears to be aimed at consolidating BJP's core support in the state, particularly in regions like Balurghat, where he was re-elected as an MP.
While Majumdar's argument about North Bengal's lagging development resonates with many, the suggestion of a potential state division carries significant political risks. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has vehemently opposed the proposal, accusing the BJP of attempting to divide Bengal. This has led to a split within the Bengal BJP, with some leaders supporting Majumdar and others opposing the idea of bifurcation.
Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya defended the party's stance, asserting that the BJP does not seek Bengal's division and aims for overall development while maintaining the state's geographical integrity. However, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista supported Majumdar, arguing that the region's cultural and geographical alignment with the North East justifies the demand for integration.
West Bengal has a history of separatist movements, such as the Gorkhaland agitation and demands for a separate state of Kamatapur by the Koch Rajbanshi community. The BJP has benefitted electorally from support in these regions, winning key Lok Sabha seats in North Bengal while struggling to gain ground in South Bengal, a TMC stronghold.
The TMC, positioning itself as the defender of Bengal's unity, has condemned Majumdar's proposal as unconstitutional and accused the BJP of trying to bifurcate the state due to electoral setbacks. The party has effectively used Bengali sub-nationalism to counter the BJP's Hindutva narrative, labeling BJP leaders as outsiders and emphasizing regional pride.
Majumdar's comments have thus provided the TMC with ammunition to reinforce its narrative, tapping into the deep-seated insecurities of Bengali-speaking populations that have endured the trauma of partition twice. This political maneuvering underscores the complex dynamics at play in West Bengal's regional politics.
