Rajbongshi Leaders Switch Sides: Join BJP Ahead of Assembly Elections

On the eve of the assembly elections, Banshibadan Barman, one of the leaders of the Rajbongshi community in Cooch Behar, joined the BJP. Along with him, Girijashankar Roy, another Rajbongshi leader, and Arghya Roy Pradhan, a former TMC MLA from Mekhliganj, also joined the BJP. They joined the party at the Bidhannagar office on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition, BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya, party spokesperson advocate Debajit Sarkar, and general secretary Locket Chatterjee. Arghya Roy's father, former MP Amar Roy Pradhan, also joined the BJP. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is visiting North Bengal at this time. Banshibadan Barman, the face of the Greater Cooch Behar movement. A leader of The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association, who has long supported the TMC, joined the BJP. Banshibadan said, "The Rajbongshi community has a separate language. It has not been possible to do so for so long. I will appeal to the central government to stand by the Rajbongshi community.