Ganga Prasad Sharma, the Alipurduar district president of the BJP who had voiced his discontent over selection of candidates in two Assembly seats, said on Monday that the state leadership had asked him to remain “silent”.
Hours after BJP had announced economist Ashok Lahiri as its Alipurduar candidate and Bishal Lama, a former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, as the nominee for Kalchini on Sunday, Sharma said he did not know Lahiri and he had not been consulted on Lama’s candidature.
On Monday, Sharma said: “I have intimated the state leadership about my grievances. They have asked me to remain silent for the next couple of days.”
Sharma was scheduled to address a press meet in the Alipurduar BJP office at 4pm on Monday.
A WhatsApp message addressed to media persons in the party’s chat group, sent at 6.20 in the morning, had said it would be his “last” press meet as the BJP district chief.
The press meet was, however, cancelled which BJP sources attributed to “pressure” on Sharma. “The press meet has been cancelled because of unavoidable circumstances, but I will meet you soon,” Sharma said without divulging further details.
The number from which Sharma’s message had been posted in the WhatsApp group was deleted later in the day.
Sharma also changed his stance on Lahiri and described the economist as a “highly educated person” and an “excellent candidate”.
On Sunday, Sharma had said: “I came to know from the media that Ashok Lahiri would contest from Alipurduar. I don’t know him. So, how can I speak about him?”
However, he did not have any such kind words for Kalchini candidate Lama.
On Monday evening, BJP supporters had demonstrated in front of Sharma’s house in Jaigoan and demanded that Lama be dropped as the Kalchini candidate.
Deba Prasad Roy has been announced as the Congress candidate from Alipurduar. Roy had won the seat in 2011, but the veteran had been denied a ticket in the 2016 Assembly election.
Sources in the BJP said a section of party supporters was still rigid in their demand for Lama’s pullout from the fray.
“It seems the party will stick to Lama in Kalchini and hence, the cold war by BJP supporters might persist in the run-up to the election,” said an observer.
Throughout the day, there was much debate over Lahiri’s candidature in Alipurduar. While a section of the people seemed satisfied over the candidature of a “highly qualified” person, another section wondered if he would have enough time to dedicate for the people of Alipurduar. Lahiri is expected to reach the district in the next few days to start his campaign.