CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: KOLKATA: Political discussions within the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have intensified following Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s visit to the residence of Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay during Lakshmi Puja. The meeting has renewed speculation about a possible understanding between the BJP and NCPI ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.
Adhikari described the visit as a courtesy call, explaining that Bandyopadhyay had invited him to attend the family’s Lakshmi Puja celebrations. He denied that the visit was intended for political discussions. Bandyopadhyay, however, said his party was prepared to support the BJP and indicated that discussions about participation in the civic elections could be finalised soon.
The development comes amid differing positions within the Bengal BJP over a possible electoral arrangement. Several senior state leaders have maintained that the party should contest municipal elections independently, arguing that it has sufficient organisational strength to field its own candidates.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar recently reiterated that the BJP would contest all 209 wards in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections without an alliance. State BJP leaders have also expressed concerns about accommodating former Trinamool Congress leaders who moved to NCPI.
The NCPI emerged as a political factor after a group of Trinamool Congress MPs shifted to the party and extended support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the national level.
Although Adhikari’s visit has fuelled speculation about changing political equations, no formal BJP-NCPI electoral alliance has been confirmed. The party’s final position and candidate-selection strategy will become clearer as preparations for the municipal elections progress.
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