Amid growing discontent among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers over a slew of inductions from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) into the saffron party in recent days, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on Friday said that senior leaders or public representatives could be welcomed into the party if doing so served the “national interest.”
Majumdar, who had earlier served as the Bengal president of the party maintained that grassroots TMC leaders would not be inducted into the saffron camp.
Speaking to reporters at Bagdogra Airport ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state, Majumdar said the BJP’s guiding principle was “Country first, party second.” He added that larger national interests sometimes required setting aside narrower political considerations.
“Implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill is an urgent necessity in the larger interest of the nation,” Majumdar said.
Referring to recent political developments following the resignation of some Rajya Sabha members, Majumdar claimed that those who had met senior BJP leaders were willing to join the party.
On actor-politician Koel Mallick’s resignation, he said it was natural for anyone in such a situation to explore political options. He added that, having been elected only a few months ago, she could continue as a public representative even if she joined another political party.
He, however, reiterated that the BJP was not interested in inducting lower-level Trinamool leaders, including those from Siliguri.
On Amit Shah’s visit, Majumdar said the Union Home Minister was on an official tour to review border-related and administrative issues. He alleged that land required for strengthening infrastructure along the Indo-Bangladesh border could not be handed over to the BSF during the previous state government because of a lack of cooperation. According to him, after the BJP came to power at the Centre and with the cooperation of the present state administration, substantial land had been transferred to the BSF. He said Shah would elaborate on the matter during his official engagements.
Highlighting the Centre’s infrastructure initiatives, Majumdar said the BJP-led government had significantly expanded railway infrastructure across the country. He noted that around 100 Amrit Bharat railway stations had been sanctioned for West Bengal and that 25 stations, including several under the Northeast Frontier Railway, were scheduled to be inaugurated on Friday.
He also said the Narendra Modi government was introducing hydrogen-powered railway engines as part of its efforts to promote cleaner, environment-friendly transport, adding that hydrogen technology causes far less pollution than conventional diesel engines.
Meanwhile, senior Union and state ministers have started arriving in Siliguri ahead of Amit Shah’s engagements. BJP workers remained busy with preparations for the home minister’s programmes, while security arrangements were intensified at Uttarkanya and the BSF’s North Bengal Frontier headquarters.