With the upcoming state Assembly election in West Bengal, the state’s BJP unit shocked with the resignation of minority chief Shakeel Ansari and if we talk about the contribution of minorities in West Bengal it is hardly possible for any party to lead in the state without the support of the minorities.
The Modi wave of the general election 2014 Lok Sabha polls is showing sure signs of fading out and along with that the waning support of the minority community in West Bengal should concern the state BJP ahead of the assembly elections.
The resignation came as a protest by the Muslim community against the party as members of the minority community allegedly makes remark that BJP’s minority cell president, Shakeel Ansari is just a showpiece by the party because the BJP in West Bengal not allotted a single seat to any Muslim candidate in the 52 seats announced by the party so far.
Muslim BJP workers from Labhpur in Birbhum district are all set to start a protest on the issue.
It seems like if the BJP wants to make a good remark in the state in upcoming assembly elections, it can’t ignore the contribution of Muslims in the state. It comprises about 28% of the 30% minority votes. The safest way for the BJP in WB to gain the trust of Muslims is to appoint Muslims to some important positions at least in the state committee – like BJP has done at the Centre in the shape of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Shahnawaz Hussain and more recently, MJ Akbar.
The fact that the state had never been a Muslim spokesperson for the party in hit out like a sore thumb amidst speeches for the welfare of ‘Musalman Bhai’ by BJP leaders.
TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee has never backed out of the so-called ‘Muslim accommodation schemes’ in spite of severe criticism from the Opposition. Before the polls, she made her peace with most of the prominent Muslim leaders here and it is said that the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid had recently conducted a press conference urging people to vote for the TMC, under her instructions. So alarm bells should be ringing for the BJP.
Alternatively, the party might decide to write off the assembly elections and prepare for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, something BJP President Amit Shah had hinted at during his recent visit.
