Bengal BJP MP alleges interference from senior leaders, says not being allowed to work

BJP MP Arjun Singh, who had so far been criticising the Centre’s jute policies, on Sunday fired a fresh salvo at the saffron camp top brass, alleging that he "not being allowed to work" in West Bengal, despite being a state vice president of the party.

Singh told reporters at his residence in Bhatpara that grassroots-level members were also finding it difficult to carry out their day-to-day activities as leaders helming the state unit of the BJP were coming in the way of their work.

"Let's be clear. By posting tweets on social media, we cannot dislodge the TMC from power in West Bengal. Those having no connection with the ground reality are calling the shots while proven fighters having mass base are being ignored. How can the BJP achieve its objective then?" said Singh, who had switched over to the saffron camp from the Mamata Banerjee-led party in 2019. The Barrackpore MP claimed that his hands, too, were tied despite being the BJP state vice president.

"It is like I have been gifted a fountain pen without ink and paper," he argued.

The BJP MP, however, on Monday said that he was not speaking against the party. He was only raising concerns about certain systems that wrong in a ministry.

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Arjun Singh was referring to his repeated complaints against Centre's jute policies including a price cap. He had also written a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting her intervention, sparking concerns in the BJP.

(With PTI inputs)