Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, March 12, 2025 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the principal opposition party in West Bengal, is currently grappling with a growing crisis as a wave of defections weakens its position in the state. In the lead-up to the presidential election, multiple BJP MLAs have abandoned the party to join the Trinamool Congress (TMC), significantly reducing the BJP’s strength in the state assembly.
In the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP secured 77 seats, but the number of its MLAs has steadily declined since then. Initially, the resignation of two MLAs dropped the BJP’s tally to 75, but the defections have continued, leaving the party with just 65 MLAs. This loss has come amid the death of one MLA and another’s election to the Lok Sabha. With this shrinking number, the BJP now faces considerable challenges ahead of the next assembly elections, scheduled to take place in 2026.
The ongoing defections have placed significant pressure on the party’s top leadership, particularly Shuvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition, and Sukanta Majumdar, the State President. Both leaders are facing increasing scrutiny for their inability to stem the tide of defections and maintain party unity. As the number of BJP MLAs dwindles, questions are being raised about the leadership’s effectiveness in handling the crisis.
In addition to the current 65 MLAs, sources within the BJP suggest that there are concerns about the future of another 8 party members, with discussions about possible defections to the Trinamool Congress. Should these MLAs leave the party, the BJP’s situation in West Bengal could become even more dire, further complicating its strategy for the upcoming elections.
The defection of Taapsee Mandal, a prominent BJP MLA, has further escalated the crisis. Mandal attended the assembly on Monday but later quietly joined the Trinamool Congress, signaling yet another blow to the BJP’s credibility and unity. His defection has underscored the growing dissatisfaction within the party ranks and the difficulty in retaining its members.
With the state BJP’s presidential election scheduled to take place this year, the new president will face a daunting task. The leadership will need to address the party’s internal crisis, prevent further defections, and reorganize the party to present a strong challenge in the upcoming assembly elections. The pressure to maintain the party’s relevance in West Bengal is mounting, and the new leadership will have to act swiftly to regain control of the situation.