BJP Worker Dies After Clashes Highlight Factions in West Bengal

A Bharatiya Janata Party worker died on Sunday after being hurt in a fight involving party supporters in Panihati, located in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. The victim, Arup Saha, was the husband of Ruma Saha, who works as the secretary of the BJP's Panihati-1 mandal. The trouble started on Saturday when Ruma Saha protested an attack on a local businessman and faced verbal abuse from a fellow party member. When Arup Saha stepped in to help, a physical fight broke out, leaving him with injuries. He went to a government-run hospital on Saturday but passed away on Sunday.

Faction Tensions

Local leaders pointed fingers at internal party divisions. BJP Panihati MLA Ratna Debnath stated that members who shifted to the party from the Trinamool Congress after the May 4 Assembly election results were to blame. She added that the district president picked ward conveners of his choice, and most of them previously belonged to the Trinamool. The mother of Abhaya, a doctor from RG Kar Hospital who was attacked in August 2024 and joined the BJP before the 2026 polls, also noted that unofficial ward coordinators from the Trinamool are now present in all 29 wards of the Panihati Municipality. Political analysts point out that top BJP leaders in the State, such as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, became members of the party roughly half a decade ago. Tensions spilled over in Barrackpore on Sunday as well, where protesters shouted go-back slogans at BJP MLA Kaustav Bagchi. Critics claimed Mr. Bagchi distributed Chhath Puja sarees alongside individuals accused of murdering a BJP leader, while the MLA himself complained about illegal businesses running in his area.

Context

Political parties that absorb a large number of members from rival groups often face friction between longtime loyalists and newcomers. These internal rivalries can grow especially sharp after election victories when new factions vie for local influence and positions within the organisation.