Bengal BJP leaders are at the receiving end of some party MLAs for their failure in providing financial assistance to the victims of violence after publication of Assembly poll results, a theme that the saffron camp used extensively to discredit the Mamata Banerjee government in the eyes of the national audience.

At a recent meeting of the BJP’s state leaders and MLAs, the issue of how the party’s promise of financial assistance to those whose lives and livelihood got affected in the post-poll violence remained on paper came out in the open.

“Almost all MLAs present at the meeting expressed their unhappiness on the issue, but three of them — Mihir Goswami of Cooch Behar South, Bankim Ghosh of Chakdaha and Narahari Mahato of Purulia — were unsparing in their criticism,” said an MLA, who was present at the meeting.

According to multiple sources, Goswami, a Trinamul turncoat, asked the leadership — on behalf of all the MLAs — to deliver on its promise of financial assistance to the victims of the alleged violence. The party’s state unit had asked all the MLAs to draw up list of victims of the violence in their areas and submit it to the party.

The BJP had repeatedly flagged off post-poll violence to create an anti-Trinamul narrative in national media. The state leaders also used it to justify the steady erosion in the BJP's support base and desertion of the party by leaders and supporters.

“Mihirda was very clear on the issue when he rose to speak.... He wanted the party to clarify whether the money will at all be provided or not, so that the same can be communicated to the victims,” a source said.

Goswami apparently said that while the leadership can afford to dilly-dally on the issue, the MLAs have to face the queries from the common people, who were promised of financial assistance.

“There is gross non-cooperation from the party...It is very embarrassing for us,” this person added.

In the meeting, Goswami had claimed he himself had assisted 278 people, who had been affected by the violence.

When this newspaper reached out to Goswami for a comment on this development, he claimed he had “only reminded the party” that a section of the victims had not yet received the financial assistance. “When the details of the victims were sent to the state office there were some mistakes and hence the delay,” he added.

Mahato, on the other hand, claimed MLAs are dishonoured by the office-bearers of the party’s district organisation. He alleged that the district chiefs and his associates are given importance at meetings, while the legislators are treated as non-entities. “I’m just an MLA and nothing more. I don’t get information about the policies and programs of the party,” Mahato reportedly said.

Amitava Chakraborty, the state general secretary (organistaion), didn’t have an answer on when the financial assistance would be provided to the victims.