A proposal to bifurcate West Bengal was submitted to PM Modi on Wednesday by West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar .
The Union Minister stated that he urged PM Narendra Modi to incorporate North Bengal as a part of Northeast India, arguing that the region would receive focused attention from the centre post-bifurcation helping in its socio-economic development.
Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar claimed that the state government has neglected the region and that separation would address this issue. However, this demand for the bifurcation of West Bengal has stirred the state’s political circles.
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claimed that the BJP is pushing for state’s bifurcation to fulfill its political ambitions and views the BJP’s demand as a politically motivated move after failing to gain significant seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Why BJP Demands Befircution Of West Bengal?
The idea of separating North Bengal from the rest of West Bengal is not new. It has a long and contentious history, rooted in the region’s unique geographical, cultural and economic landscape.
Discussions about the separation of North Bengal intensified after the BJP’s loss in the 2021 assembly elections. Some BJP leaders, including former Union minister and ex-MP from Alipurduars, John Barla, have previously suggested creating a Union Territory comprising North Bengal districts.
North Bengal Region
North Bengal, consisting of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and parts of North Dinajpur, Malda and South Dinajpur, is distinct from southern West Bengal. Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri have a higher proportion of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe populations, while the remaining districts are largely rural. The region’s cultural tapestry is influenced by its proximity to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh and it boasts significant tribal and ethnic diversity.
North Bengal Ethnic Composition
North Bengal is home to diverse ethnic groups, such as theRajbanshis, Koches, Gorkhas and Adivasis. These groups have supported various groups, including the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) and Kamtapur People’s Party, advocating for a separate state of North Bengal.
Supporters argue that integration with the North East could spur economic development, better infrastructure and more targeted governance, leveraging central schemes tailored for the North Eastern states.