The BJP named Suvendu Adhikary as the party’s legislative party leader on Monday, making it clear that he will be the face of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly.
The decision once again exposed the BJP’s lack of confidence in members from its own fold, mainly the Rashtriya Swayasevak Sangh and dependence on politicians poached from other parties.
“Overwhelmed to have been nominated by my party as Leader of Opposition in the Bidhan Sabha. I thank @BJP4India and @BJP4Bengal leadership for reposing their faith in me. Will hold the government accountable and defend the rights and interests of the great People of West Bengal,” tweeted Suvendu after the announcement.
Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and BJP’s all India general secretary Bhupendra Yadav were entrusted with the task to find the party's legislative party leader.
According to BJP sources, his former rival in the Trinamul Congress Mukul Roy, who is a national president of the BJP, proposed Adhikari's name as leader of the Opposition.
“By making Mukul da propose his name, the party has sent out a signal that whatever differences the two might have had in the past, they are now working together for BJP in the state,” said a senior BJP leader.
Once a minister and a key strategist for the Trinamul across several districts in South Bengal, Adhikari is a new entrant to the BJP. His poll victory over chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram is believed to be the reason behind the party’s central leadership handling him the key responsibility. 'Giant killer" Adhikari won the seat by 1,956 votes, although Trinamul has alleged manipulation during the counting process.
Having defeated Mamata, Adhikari is one up on Mamata, who will have to enter the Assembly through a by-election in the next six months.
“When he stands to speak on any issue inside the floor of the House, the chief minister will be rattled. By making Adhikari the leader of Opposition, the party’s central leadership has given a strong face. Plus, he knows the Trinamul too well,” said a BJP source.
Of the 77 MLAs the BJP has in Bengal this time, none has the experience of parliamentary politics like Adhikari, who has been an MLA and an MP in the past. Even Roy is a debutant MLA and is seen as more of an organisation man.
Speculation was rife whether Roy would be the leader of Opposition as he has been in the BJP longer than Adhikari and is a tested political strategist. A section of the BJP felt, instead of “outsiders”, the Sangh would like someone from within to lead the 76 other MLAs in Bengal.
“Frankly, there was no one to give this responsibility,” admitted a BJP leader.
