BJP state unit chief Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday extended the party’s full support for the agitating doctors in their protest against the Mamata Banerjee government, asserting that their demands in the wake of the RG Kar tragedy were legitimate.

Majumdar also urged the party’s supporters and the people of the state to join the movement in large numbers.

Majumdar's move came a day after the CPM officially declared support for the movement and asked its supporters to gather at Esplanade, where some junior doctors have been on a fast-unto-death.

“(Bengal) BJP extends its full support to the Junior Doctor’s Front in their agitation against the Mamata Banerjee government. The demands made by protesting doctors, in the aftermath of the gruesome rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, are legitimate, and must be fulfilled,” said Majumdar in a media release.

“I encourage all BJP karyakartas to join the doctors’ protest in large numbers. I also urge the people of (Bengal) to be a part of this movement and get heard,” he added.

Although the protesting doctors have consistently maintained that their movement was “apolitical”, the CPM and the wider Left ecosystem have been notably involved with it even before making the official announcement.

Trinamool Congress has been accusing Left-affiliate organisations of influencing key decisions and shaping the direction of the doctors' movement.

The BJP, despite consistently expressing full support for the cause, has been struggling to get a toehold in the movement in the face of firm resistance from the protesters.

Many BJP leaders were met with “go back” slogans whenever they tried visiting a protest site.

Over the past few days, as the movement gained momentum with national organisations like the Indian Medical Association (IMA) backing the protests, the highest leadership of the BJP and the RSS has openly endorsed the movement, encouraging the state unit of the party to try afresh.

“We have always supported the cause of the doctors and there is no confusion there. We apprehend that there is some ulterior motive of the state government and we want to protect the junior doctors from that. They are young minds and assets of our state and it is our responsibility to safeguard their interests,” a senior BJP leader said.

“It is immaterial, at the moment, whether they welcome us or reject us,” he added.

In the release, Majumdar wrote: “We have to protect our doctors and save Bengal from the dark forces, which are helming the affairs of the state at the moment.”

While the BJP officially stated that its goal was to support the junior doctors and protect them from any potential harm, many party leaders believe that the backing from central leadership has injected new momentum into the protest, which the state unit of the party is now attempting to capitalise on.

On Saturday, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat voiced support for the movement, asserting that the entire country stood with the agitators and virtually accusing the state government of shielding criminals, a couple of days after BJP national president and Union health minister J.P. Nadda’s statement of similar support for the protesting doctors.

“The BJP’s Bengal unit now seems re-energised on this issue, and will aim to maximise its political advantage from the situation,” a city-based political scientist said.