Basirhat: BJP MLA Rekha Patra has publicly expressed her dissatisfaction with a section of the party’s district leadership, alleging that she is repeatedly humiliated because she is not well educated.

Patra, who represents Hingalganj, said she had remained silent so far because the BJP was her party. However, she claimed that the district leadership had repeatedly misled and insulted her.

'I did not say anything until now because it is my party. The district leadership always misguides me,’ Patra said.

The BJP legislator alleged that she was invited to party programmes only to be subsequently humiliated.

She said such treatment had prompted her to stay away from programmes organised at the district level and instead concentrate on work in her constituency.

'I am not educated, and that is why the district committee always insults me. They invite me to programmes and then humiliate me. I do not like these things. That is why I do not attend any district programmes. I remain focused on my constituency,” she said.

Patra also appealed to the BJP’s senior leadership to examine the matter and take note of her allegations.

The remarks are significant as Patra had emerged as one of the prominent faces of the protests following the Sandeshkhali controversy.

She subsequently contested the Assembly elections on a BJP ticket and won from Hingalganj.

Her allegations, however, have drawn a measured response from Basirhat BJP organisational district president Sukalyan Baidya.

He said the district unit had attempted to provide Patra with the respect and responsibilities due to her position as an MLA and district committee member.

'As an MLA and a member of the district committee, whatever respect and whatever she is entitled to, we have tried to provide that. Perhaps she felt something somewhere. That is her matter,” Baidya said.

He also stressed the need for unity within the party ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections.

'The panchayat elections are ahead, and we have to fight together. The senior leaders are there, and they will look into the matter,” he added.

Patra’s public criticism of the district leadership comes at a time when political parties are preparing for the next round of electoral battles in Bengal.

Her comments have brought internal differences within the local BJP unit into the spotlight, with the party’s senior leadership now expected to address the concerns raised by the Hingalganj MLA.