Kolkata: In the wake of complaints over alleged extortion, BJP national general secretary Sunil Bansal on Thursday held a meeting with party MLAs and district functionaries, asking them to ensure zero tolerance against such “aberrations”. Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, now in New Delhi, will attend the concluding part of the meeting on Friday.Bengal BJP minder Amit Malviya and general secretary (organisation) Amitava Chakraborty were also present in the meeting. BJP sources said MLAs were asked to focus on complaints about anti-party activities. “MLAs will now have to be more vigilant, but complaints will be looked after by state-level disciplinary committee,” said a BJP functionary.Sources said more than 300 show-cause notices and at least 22 suspension letters have been issued to party functionaries, including mandal presidents, in connection with “anti-party activities”. BJP sources said errant workers may not receive any organisational position in future if found guilty.Earlier, Samik Bhattacharya had issued a stern warning against errant party workers regarding extortion.Bengal BJP sources said the maximum number of complaints came from Dum Dum Lok Sabha constituency. “While there are fewer complaints from Rajarhat and New Town, a lot of allegations came from parts of South 24 Parganas and Asansol. Many complainants wrote letters directly to Bhattacharya,” said a BJP functionary. Suspended workers faced various allegations, including attempts to occupy TMC offices and maintaining links with opposition workers.Asansol South MLA and minister Agnimitra Paul and Pandaveswar MLA Jitendra Tiwari have also voiced concern over the extortion culture. Kharagpur Town MLA and minister Dilip Ghosh has warned party workers against maintaining links with Trinamool cadre.Meanwhile, Bansal held a separate meeting with ministers Tapas Roy and Sankar Ghosh over preparations for municipal polls. Several MLAs — including Kashipur Belgachia MLA Ritesh Tiwari and Baranagar MLA Sajal Ghosh — were present at the meeting. Party workers are expecting polls at a number of municipal bodies after Durga Puja.
