Mamata Banerjee Felicitates BJP MP Anant Maharaj; His Remarks On BJP Raise Eyebrows

• BJP Rajya Sabha MP Anant Maharaj received the Banga Bibhushan award from Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata.
• During the event, he criticised the BJP, saying it had done little for Cooch Behar.
• The honour comes amid renewed political focus on the Rajbanshi community ahead of Bengal polls.

A rare political moment unfolded in Kolkata as BJP Rajya Sabha MP Anant Maharaj was honoured with West Bengal's Banga Bibhushan award by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an International Mother Language Day programme.

His presence at a state government event drew attention, but it was his remarks criticising his own party that sparked discussion.

Honour At State Event

Maharaj was escorted to the stage by state minister Indranil Sen and felicitated by the Chief Minister at the ceremony. He recited a poem from his childhood and expressed gratitude for the recognition given to him and the Rajbanshi community.

However, he also said that the BJP had done nothing for Cooch Behar, drawing notice among attendees and political observers. After accepting the award and speaking briefly, he left the venue within minutes to catch a flight.

Key highlights from the event:

BJP MP honoured with Banga Bibhushan by Bengal government
Speech included gratitude and criticism of BJP
Award linked to recognition of Rajbanshi community

Language Inclusion Push

Days before the event, the West Bengal government sent a proposal to the Centre seeking inclusion of Rajbanshi and Kurmali languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The move is seen as an outreach to communities in North Bengal.

The Rajbanshi community is concentrated in districts such as Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Malda and Murshidabad and holds significant electoral influence.

With Assembly elections approaching, the Rajbanshi vote is considered crucial in North Bengal, where both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress are seeking support. The community has influence across more than a dozen Assembly seats in the region.

The public felicitation of a BJP MP by the state government, coupled with his remarks, has added a fresh political dimension to the evolving electoral landscape in West Bengal.