The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 26 August issued a show-cause notice to Satyendra Nath Ray, a first-time MLA from Gangarampur Assembly Constituency in South 24 Parganas, for allegedly making slanderous and derogatory social media remarks against Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar, who also serves as the party's Lok Sabha member from Balurghat. The notice was issued on the recommendation of the party's disciplinary committee and on the instructions of BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya.

What the Notice Says

While the show-cause notice does not explicitly name Majumdar, a state committee insider confirmed it pertains to recent social media comments in which Ray allegedly linked the Union Minister with Biplab Mitra, a former minister in the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) cabinet. The notice characterised the MLA's remarks as 'shameful and against the party constitution.'

Ray has been asked to submit his response within seven days. The disciplinary committee's next steps will depend on his reply.

The Facebook Live That Triggered the Action

A few days before the notice was issued, Ray went live on Facebook, alleging an 'unusually sweet relationship' between certain BJP leaders and TMC ministers. He claimed a section of TMC leaders were attempting to infiltrate the BJP to undermine it from within — remarks that drew sharp reactions within party ranks.

His comments specifically linking Majumdar with Mitra proved particularly contentious, prompting the disciplinary committee to act. A BJP state committee member said Ray had been asked to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for making derogatory comments about a senior party figure who holds a Union ministerial portfolio.

Internal Unease Ahead of Key Organisational Activities

The episode has created visible unease within the BJP's West Bengal state unit, arriving at a sensitive moment ahead of crucial organisational activities in the state. Party leadership has made it unambiguous that such public criticism of senior leaders violates organisational discipline and will not be tolerated.

Notably, this is not the first time the Bengal BJP has had to contend with internal dissent surfacing on social media. Public spats between legislators and central or state leadership have periodically flared up, complicating the party's efforts to project a unified front against the ruling TMC.

What Happens Next

The disciplinary committee's decision on Ray's response will determine whether further action — including suspension or expulsion — is taken against the first-term legislator. The BJP state unit, already navigating a complex political landscape in West Bengal, will be watching closely to see how the leadership balances internal accountability with the optics of public infighting.