Firstly, it's important to understand who Suman Kanjilal is. He was elected as an MLA from Alipurduar constituency in North Bengal in the 2019 assembly elections. Kanjilal has been associated with BJP for quite some time now and played an important role in the party's rise in the region. In fact, he was considered to be one of the most prominent faces of BJP in North Bengal.
However, in a recent turn of events, Kanjilal switched his allegiance to TMC and joined the party in the presence of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The move was a big blow to BJP, which has been trying to expand its presence in North Bengal ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
So what prompted Kanjilal to switch sides? According to reports, he was unhappy with the leadership in BJP and felt that the party was not giving him due recognition. He was also reportedly miffed with the choice of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. On the other hand, TMC has been making efforts to lure BJP leaders in Bengal, with an eye on the assembly polls.
Kanjilal's defection to TMC has been widely seen as a major setback for BJP in North Bengal. The region is crucial for both BJP and TMC, with the latter having a strong presence in the southern part of the state. BJP has been trying to expand its base here, but the defection of one of its most prominent leaders is likely to dent its prospects.
The move is also significant in the context of TMC's efforts to consolidate its position ahead of the assembly elections. TMC has been trying to woo leaders from other parties and has managed to get several prominent faces, including MLAs, to switch sides. This has led to speculations that TMC may announce several more defections in the coming days.
The implications of Kanjilal's defection on West Bengal politics cannot be ignored. The state has witnessed a bitter power struggle between TMC and BJP in the recent past. While TMC has been ruling the state for the last two terms, BJP has emerged as a strong opposition with a considerable presence in several parts of the state. The upcoming assembly elections are seen as a major face-off between the two parties, and every move counts.
With this defection, TMC has managed to weaken BJP's hold in North Bengal and sent a strong message to the rival party. The move is likely to boost TMC's morale and give the party a much-needed shot in the arm. On the other hand, BJP will have to regroup and come up with a strategy to counter TMC's growing influence in the state.
In conclusion, Kanjilal's defection to TMC has been a major development in West Bengal politics. It has highlighted the intense power struggle between the two rival parties and has the potential to impact the upcoming assembly elections. As TMC consolidates its position and BJP tries to make inroads, the next few months are likely to witness several such twists and turns. For now, all eyes are on the assembly polls, which are set to be one of the most closely contested in recent history.