Netaji's grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose resigns from BJP, says not allowed to 'propagate inclusive ideology'

'In Bengal, you require secular and inclusive politics,' Bose said, adding that 2021 assembly elections could have offered the BJP better results, if the same had been approached accordingly.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s grandnephew Chandra Bose, on Wednesday quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tendering his resignation from the primary membership.

In a letter written to Jagat Prakash Nadda, BJP’s national president, Bose wrote that Netaji and his elder brother Sarat Chandra Bose (Chandra Bose’s grandfather) stood for “an inclusive and secular ideology for independent India”.

Bose, in his communication to Nadda, stated that he had joined the BJP in 2016, as he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “leadership and expansive development programme”. “My discussions then centred on the inclusive ideology of the Bose Brothers. My understanding, both then and later, has been that I would propagate this ideology across the nation on a BJP platform,” Bose stated.

Bose recalled that there was a decision to form “Azad Hind Morcha” within the framework of BJP, with a focus to propagate Netaji’s ideology of “uniting all communities as Bharatiyas, irrespective of religion, caste and creed”.

“My own ardent promotional efforts to achieve these laudable objectives have not received any support from the BJP, either at the Centre or at the state level in West Bengal. I had put forward a detailed proposal suggesting a Bengal Strategy to reach out to the people of Bengal. My proposals were ignored,” claimed Bose. “Given these unfortunate circumstances, it has become impossible for me to continue in all conscience as a member of the BJP,” he added. The letter has been copied to Prime Minister Modi, and Union home minister Amit Shah.

On being asked, what kept him waiting for so long if he didn’t find party’s support as he had initially considered it be, Bose said it was “patience” that kept him with the party all this while. “I still admire PM Modi’s leadership. I was waiting,” Bose told DH, alleging that the instructions given by the top leaders don’t find their way to the bottom in the party.

The message of “inclusiveness” by the party, Bose says, needs to get reflected and implemented. “In Bengal, you require secular and inclusive politics,” he says, adding that 2021 assembly elections could have offered the BJP better results, if the same had been approached, accordingly.

In 2016, Bose had contested assembly elections from Bhawanipur constituency in south Kolkata against Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee. He had also contested Kolkata Dakshin Lok Sabha seat in 2019. “There’s no retirement in politics. I would like to work for the people. I have not been approached by any party, but I am open to secular politics based on inclusiveness,” Bose said.