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Even after securing a historic and overwhelming majority in the West Bengal Assembly elections, a very complex and new political challenge has come before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After coming to power in Bengal, BJP strategists are now in a dilemma whether the big leaders who are desperate to leave Trinamool Congress (TMC) and join BJP should be given entry into the party or they should be left in the lurch. For BJP, this decision is proving to be as risky as ‘here a well, there a ditch’. In fact, if BJP opens its doors to these turncoat leaders of Trinamool, then there can be huge anger among the grassroots and grassroots workers who have shed blood and sweat on the ground against Mamata Banerjee’s government and its policies for decades. On the contrary, if BJP rejects these leaders, it will miss a golden opportunity to completely eliminate Trinamool’s residual existence and influence on Bengal politics and public discourse.

"BJP is not a dharamshala"… State President’s tough stance on turncoats The state unit of Bengal BJP has currently taken a very strict and tough stance regarding the leaders who are planning to switch sides from Trinamool Congress. Bengal BJP President Shamik Bhattacharya has given the message in clear and strong words that Bharatiya Janata Party is not a dharamshala, where anyone can come at any time. Shamik Bhattacharya argues that those who used violence against BJP workers for years, murdered them or tortured them, will not be given a place in the party at any cost. He says that the people of Bengal have given a clear and big mandate against the forces led by Mamata Banerjee. In such a situation, inclusion of tainted Trinamool leaders in BJP would be a complete betrayal of the public trust and hard struggle of our workers. The mathematics of local body elections and organizational compulsion: Even though the top leadership of Bengal BJP seems to be against the entry of these leaders at the local level, but political analysts and strategists believe something else. According to experts, BJP may be in dire need of the organizational ability and election management of these experienced leaders in the Panchayat and municipal elections to be held next year. These leaders coming from Trinamool have a very strong network at the grassroots level. Their hold in rural areas and towns can prove helpful in making BJP’s base more strong and invincible. This is the reason why a section of the party seems to be in favor of their inclusion. Maha rebellion in TMC: 8 out of 10 Rajya Sabha MPs can join BJP! After suffering a crushing and crushing defeat in the assembly elections, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress now seems to be on the verge of complete disintegration. There is now a strong rumor in the political circles from Delhi to Kolkata that many Trinamool Rajya Sabha MPs are going to change sides very soon. In Parliament, at present Trinamool has 29 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha. According to the news coming from inside sources and political circles, 8 out of these 10 Rajya Sabha MPs may join BJP very soon. Political experts are linking this entire development with the recent political drama of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where 7 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP suddenly changed sides and joined the ruling party. Apart from this, many TMC MLAs and senior leaders have distanced themselves from the recent review meetings of the party, clearly showing the fire of rebellion. Mamata’s defeat in Bhawanipur raises questions on leadership; Subhendu’s increased stature Mamata Banerjee’s own defeat from her safest and traditional seat Bhawanipur has put a big question mark on her leadership within the Trinamool Congress. The irony was that Mamata Banerjee was defeated by none other than Shubhendu Adhikari, who was once very close to her and who left Trinamool and joined BJP. Shubhendu Adhikari has taken BJP to this historic position in Bengal on the basis of his aggressive nationalism, Hindutva and anti-infiltration campaign, which has further strengthened his stature in the party. Fear of action by central agencies and Mamata Didi’s ‘paint’ challenge: At present, the biggest fear among Trinamool Congress leaders is that of central investigative agencies and legal action. After losing the elections, many big leaders are feeling that now the legal clampdown may tighten further on them. In such a situation, to avoid this legal action, they are looking at BJP as a safe haven and want to find shelter there. On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee currently faces the biggest and most difficult challenge of keeping her party clan united and suppressing the voices of discontent rising within. However, Mamata had recently encouraged the dejected workers by saying that she would restructure the party from scratch and if necessary, would herself go and paint the walls of the offices. But amid all these claims, at present the BJP’s strategy remains to ‘wait and watch’ on this entire political drama and developments.