Before polls, Mamata awards Bengal's highest civilian award to a BJP MP. Who's he?
India Today
Months before the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee conferred the Banga Vibhushan on BJP MP Nagen Roy, also known as Ananta Maharaj. Roy, a Rajya Sabha MP nominated by the BJP in 2023, is a prominent leader of the Rajbanshi community in North Bengal, where the Trinamool has struggled in recent polls.
Months before the West Bengal Assembly elections in April-May, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, shared stage with 25 distinguished personalities in Kolkata's Deshapriya Park. Among the 25 personalities, which included singers like Nachiketa Chakraborty, Lopamudra Mitra, Babul Supriyo and Iman Chakraborty, was a BJP MP.
On the occasion of Mother Language Day on Saturday, the personalities including BJP MP Nagen Roy, also known as Ananta Maharaj, were conferred West Bengal's highest civilian honour, the Banga Vibhushan.
The optics of the event triggered political speculation as Nagen Roy is a Rajya Sabha MP and was nominated by the BJP to the Council of States in 2023. The optics are important because Roy is a prominent leader of the Rajbanshi community in North Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress has struggled and the BJP has excelled in recent elections.
With the Assembly elections approaching, the award to Roy, who is called Ananta Maharaj by his community members, has triggered speculation.
Mamata Banerjee on Saturday honoured 25 distinguished personalities with the Banga Bhushan and Banga Vibhushan awards. These honours are given for exceptional contributions to art, culture, literature, public administration, and public service, reported news agency PTI.
Nagen Roy has been conferred the Banga Vibhushan, the state's highest civilian award. Mamata Banerjee presented him with a ceremonial stole and citation.
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