West Bengal's Bharatiya Janata Party is steering clear of alliances as it gears up for crucial municipal elections in Kolkata and Howrah. State president Samik Bhattacharya has firmly shut the door on any partnership with the National Citizens Party of India (NCPI), despite the regional party's status as a National Democratic Alliance constituent.

Key facts

  • BJP will contest Kolkata and Howrah civic polls without NCPI alliance
  • Number of wards increasing: Kolkata from 144 to 209, Howrah from 50 to 68
  • Elections expected after Durga Puja holidays
  • 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs have joined NCPI

Standing Alone

Bhattacharya's stance comes amid some internal tension. While NCPI leaders like Sudip Bandyopadhyay claimed senior BJP leaders were open to collaboration, the state president appears to have drawn a clear line. "NCPI is an ally of NDA. In West Bengal BJP will go alone. We will secure two-thirds majority in Howrah and Kolkata civic bodies on our strength," he told reporters, his words carrying both confidence and finality.

Grassroots Concerns

Senior BJP leaders worry that bringing NCPI on board could confuse party workers at the grassroots level. There's already chatter within the ranks about the leadership accommodating "good Trinamool" members—a sensitive topic that Bhattacharya seems keen to avoid exacerbating. His warning to ticket seekers that merely holding a saffron flag doesn't guarantee a nomination underscores the party's cautious approach to candidate selection.

Political Landscape Shifts

The municipal elections follow significant changes in West Bengal's political map. The state assembly recently passed bills expanding ward numbers in both cities, reflecting population growth and redistricting. With Trinamool Congress losing its two-decade grip on the corporations after councillors resigned, the BJP sees an opening. But they're determined to seize it without help from the NCPI, whose ranks now include twenty former TMC MPs who abandoned Mamata Banerjee after her assembly election defeat.

“NCPI is an ally of NDA. In West Bengal BJP will go alone. We will secure two-thirds majority in Howrah and Kolkata civic bodies on our strength.”

Symbolic Clashes

Meanwhile, minor skirmishes over party symbols hint at the tensions brewing. Bhattacharya responded sharply to reports of BJP flags being removed in Shibpur, Howrah, declaring that no one can remove the party's banners in the current political climate. His remark that "there are not many to hold flags of Opposition parties" carried a subtle dig at rivals, reinforcing the BJP's growing presence in the state.