Jhargram: Rajesh Mahato, former state president of Kurmi Samaj (West Bengal), joined BJP during the party’s ‘Poriborton Yatra’ in West Midnapore’s Garbeta on Sunday.Mahato was a key figure of the Kurmi movement for nearly 30 years, demanding the inclusion of Kurmali in the Eighth Schedule and ST status for the Kurmi community.He had however distanced himself from the organisation ever since he resigned from his post in Jan 7, 2025.Kaushik Mahato, the current state chief of the Bengal chapter of Kurmi Samaj, called Rajesh’s decision to join a political party “personal”. “The organisation has no comment on the matter. His decision won’t significantly impact the movement,” Kaushik said.Rajesh’s name had surfaced in connection with an attack on state forest minister Birbaha Hansda’s convoy during Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s ‘Nabo Jowar’ programme in Jhargram on May 26, 2023.He was subsequently arrested and had to spend 42 days in custody. Rajesh currently faces 49 cases and has been arrested seven times.A teacher at a Kharagpur school, rumours about Rajesh joining BJP first gathered steam when he was seen at a meeting attended by Union forest and environment minister Bhupender Yadav, former Tripura CM Biplab Deb, MP Jyotirmoy Singh and BJP state chief Samik Bhattacharya.Upon joining BJP, Rajesh said, “I will continue the movement for our demands. I joined a political platform because this is a larger stage where I can work for society.”On whether he will contest the upcoming elections, Rajesh said it would be the party’s decision.Trinamool Jhargram vice-president Prasun Sarangi said, “The CM has always been respectful towards the Kurmi community and sincere about its demands. Rajesh-bhai should weigh his decision more carefully.”Kurmis living in Bengal and Jharkhand have remained restive over their demand for recognition as a scheduled tribe (ST). The Bengal govt has forwarded their demand to the Centre, supported by studies conducted by the Bengal govt’s Cultural Research Institute.
