Tensions boiled over in West Bengal’s Siliguri as BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh initiated a high-stakes hunger strike on January 22, protesting the erosion of opposition MLAs’ rights and MLALAD fund misuse. Accusing the TMC government of vendetta politics, Ghosh vows to fast for a full day.
‘Power is being wielded to cripple us,’ the legislator declared, recounting futile efforts: memorandums to CM Mamata Banerjee, letters to officials, and snubbed meeting requests with the municipal mayor. The result? Stalled projects and frustrated constituents.
Central to his fight is the MLA Local Area Development scheme, plagued by what he terms ‘deliberate administrative sabotage.’ Funds trickle in late or not at all, hamstringing local growth from water schemes to community centers.
Ghosh urges a streamlined process, free from political interference, to fulfill voter mandates. The district setup, he charges, excels at creating hurdles rather than solutions.
This public fast isn’t about clash but justice—protecting elected roles and prioritizing people over party. With Bengal’s politics ever volatile, it spotlights governance inequities.
As the strike unfolds, it invites scrutiny: Will authorities relent, streamlining funds for all MLAs? Or deepen divides? Ghosh’s resolve may inspire a wave of similar resistance.