BJP Banks On Mithun Magic

Though the BJP is banking on mithun, it is also having a hard time explaining his gaffes

- Romita Datta

With panchayat elections in West Bengal scheduled in March 2023-expected to be a curtain-raiser for the parliamentary election in 2024-the BJP has been looking high and low for a credible Bengali face to woo rural voters. Finally, they have decided to pin their hopes on Mithun Chakraborty: movie star, entrepreneur, philanthropist and neophyte politician. However, the real reason for its choice lies in Mithun's unparalleled demotic pull in his home state. The 72-year-old is performing the role assigned to him with all seriousness taking up the saffron party, sitting down for humble meals in tribal homes and making a mouthful of promises, like "incredible investment" coming Bengal's way if the BJP is voted to power. Mithun was inducted into the state BJP's 20-member core committee in October. The effort to project Mithun in a big way began a few months back he was flown in to inaugurate Durga Pujas patronised by the BJP in various districts, including in North Bengal.