Leader, who needs separate state carved out of Bengal, says BJP supplied him Rajya Sabha ticket

By PTI

KOLKATA: Ananta Rai ‘Maharaj’, who has been demanding {that a} separate state of ‘Greater Cooch Behar’ be carved out of West Bengal, on Tuesday stated he has been supplied a Rajya Sabha ticket by the BJP, after a gathering with Union MoS for Home Nisith Pramanik.

Pramanik, the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, met the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA) chief at his residence, and held an hour-long assembly.

“I have been given an offer (for Rajya Sabha). They said they were considering my name. I am not opposed to it. Let’s see what happens,” Ananta informed reporters with Pramanik by his facet.

Pramanik stated it could profit your complete state if folks like him go to Parliament.

“We want someone from Cooch Behar like Ananta Maharaj, who works for the development of the people, to be sent to the Upper House. But I cannot comment until the list is out as nothing is final. Let the names be announced officially,” he stated.

Six Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal will go to the polls on July 24, in addition to, bypoll can even be held in one other seat from the state.

However, it was not instantly clear whether or not Ananta Rai was supplied a ticket to contest one among these seats or will probably be nominated to the Upper House.

Ananta Rai ‘Maharaj’ heads one of many factions of GCPA, which has been demanding {that a} separate state be carved out of northern West Bengal.

With its eight districts, together with picturesque Darjeeling, north Bengal is economically vital for the state for its tea, timber and tourism industries.

The area, which shares a border with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, has witnessed a number of violent statehood actions because the early eighties by numerous ethnic teams similar to Gorkhas, Rajbanshis, Kochs and Kamatapuris.

Several BJP MPs and MLAs from the area have advocated {that a} separate state or Union territory be carved out with these eight districts.

However, the state BJP has maintained that it doesn’t help such calls for.

The Trinamool Congress on Monday introduced its candidates for six Rajya Sabha seats.

Among them had been Derek O’Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dola Sen.

O’Brien, an MP since 2011, is the TMC’s chief in Rajya Sabha, whereas Ray, who was first despatched to the Upper House of Parliament in 2012, is the deputy chief whip.

Sen, a senior chief and commerce unionist, grew to become an MP in 2017.

The newcomers on the checklist had been Bangla Sanskriti Mancha president Samirul Islam, TMC’s Alipurduar district president Prakash Chik Baraik, and RTI activist and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale.

The bypoll will probably be held in one other seat as former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro resigned as a TMC MP in April.

The TMC has 216 MLAs within the 294-member meeting and enjoys the help of 5 BJP MLAs, who converted to the ruling occasion however are but to resign from the House.

The BJP has a energy of 70 within the meeting.

As per the numbers within the meeting, TMC will get six of those seven Rajya Sabha seats and the BJP one.

Pramanik, the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, met the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA) chief at his residence, and held an hour-long assembly.

“I have been given an offer (for Rajya Sabha). They said they were considering my name. I am not opposed to it. Let’s see what happens,” Ananta informed reporters with Pramanik by his facet.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );