Suman Kanjilal, who was elected the MLA of Alipurduar from the BJP, but “defected” to Trinamul on Sunday, said on Tuesday that the confusion caused by consistent calls for statehood by some BJP leaders and legislators of north Bengal and a “strategic” silence by state leaders of the BJP’s Bengal unit “disappointed” him.

Trinamul on Sunday claimed that Kanjilal joined Mamata Banerjee’s party at the office of the Trinamul all-India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Calcutta. He returned to his hometown on Tuesday.

“On one hand, (BJP) leaders and elected representatives of this region speak about statehood. On the other hand, (the BJP’s) state leaders go into denial mode. This is nothing but a strategic move to create confusion and try and get votes by stoking the sentiments of people in north Bengal. I am disappointed,” Kanjilal told newspersons at the district Trinamul office.

In the morning, as he reached New Alipurduar station from Calcutta by train, around 1,000 Trinamul supporters and leaders welcomed him and took him to the Trinamul party office where he met senior leaders.

Kanjilal, however, dodged a direct reply when asked if he joined Trinamul and played the development card instead.

“I was elected two years back but could not carry out development works. That is why I met Abhishek Banerjee. He assured all help and asked me to prepare a list of proposals which should be taken up for Alipurduar’s comprehensive development,” he said.

The MLA acknowledged Mamata’s initiatives to create Alipurduar district and the development carried out by her state government in the district.

“As I visited areas of my constituency, people asked me what the (BJP-led) central government and the (BJP) MP (John Barla) have done for the district. People are also miffed with the Centre’s decision to halt funds for many social welfare schemes. These issues also prompted me to meet Abhishek Banerjee,” Kanjilal added.

Since 2021, Kanjilal is the third BJP MLA of north Bengal who “defected” to Trinamul without formally announcing it in so many words. The BJP, which bagged 30 of 54 Assembly seats in this region, now has 26 MLAs. The three apart, the BJP lost Dinhata seat to Trinamul in a bypoll.

BJP leaders put a brave face after Kanjilal’s desertion and said they were lining up political events as damage control.

“On February 10, Suvendu Adhikari (leader of the Opposition in Assembly) will be here to attend a rally. We seek to clearly tell residents of the district that the MLA joined Trinamul for his own interest,” said a BJP functionary.

He said talks would be held to confirm there was no communication gap between party leaders and elected representatives, an issue flagged by Manoj Tigga, another BJP MLA of the district.

“Leaders in different tiers have been asked to take an inclusive approach while planning political vents. No party functionary or elected representative should be left out of these events,” the BJP source added.