Who is the ‘Maharaj’ of ‘Coochbehar’ Anant Rai, who wants separate state and Rajya Sabha member of BJP from Bengal?

CUnchbihar/Kolkata: Anant Rai ‘Maharaj’, who has been demanding a separate ‘Greater Cooch Behar’ state out of West Bengal, has claimed that he has been offered a Rajya Sabha ticket by the BJP. Ananth Rai, who holds the title of ‘Maharaj’, said this after meeting Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP MP from Cooch Behar, Nisith Pramanik. The meeting reportedly took place at Ananth Rai’s residence. “I have been proposed (for Rajya Sabha). They said they are considering my name. I am not opposed to it. Let’s see what happens,” Ananth told reporters with Pramanik. In his turn, Pramanik said that if people like him go to Parliament, the decision will benefit the entire state.

“We want someone like Anant Maharaj from Cooch Behar to be sent to the Upper House, who works for the development of the people. But till the list is out, I cannot comment as nothing is final Let the names be officially announced.” They said.

Who is Anant Rai ‘Maharaj’?

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Anant Rai assumed the title of ‘Maharaja’ 18 years ago. He calls himself the Maharaja of Cooch Behar, a former kingdom that gave up its powers and became part of the Indian Union in 1950. He heads the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association (GCPA), which is working with the sole aim of achieving Greater Cooch Behar. The Cooch Behar region of West Bengal was recognized as a separate state or union territory.

Why is BJP giving Rajya Sabha opportunity to Anant Rai?

Ananth Rai – the self-styled king of the district – is demanding that a separate state be carved out of northern West Bengal. The man wields considerable influence over the Koch-Rajbongshi community and claims to have over 1.8 million followers. Mainly due to his influence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah came to meet Rai in 2021. The two discussed the status of the state and the Narayani Sena over a breakfast of coconut laddoos and patishapta. When Rai took off with Shah in the helicopter, the Cooch Behar Rash Mela ground was filled with the colors of the Koch-Rajbongshi flag. By projecting Rai as its Rajya Sabha candidate, the saffron party is likely looking to consolidate the Rajbongshi vote in the upcoming elections.

Rajya Sabha elections in West Bengal

Polling for six Rajya Sabha seats in West Bengal will be held on July 24, besides a by-election for another seat in the state. With its eight districts including picturesque Darjeeling, North Bengal is economically important to the state for its tea, timber and tourism industries.

The region, which shares borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, has seen several violent statehood movements by various ethnic groups such as Gorkhas, Rajbanshis, Kochs and Kamtapuris since the early eighties. Several BJP MPs and MLAs from the region have advocated the creation of a separate state or union territory by merging these eight districts. However, the state BJP has said that it does not support such demands.

Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress has already announced its candidates for the six Rajya Sabha seats. These included Derek O’Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dola Sen. O’Brien, an MP since 2011, is the leader of the TMC in the Rajya Sabha, while Ray, who was first sent to the upper house of parliament in 2012, is the leader of the TMC in the Rajya Sabha. Deputy Chief Whip. Sen, a senior leader and trade union leader, became a Member of Parliament in 2017.

New entrants to the list include Bangla Sanskriti Manch president Sameerul Islam, TMC’s Alipurduar district president Prakash Chik Badaik and RTI activist and TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale. The bypoll will be held on another seat as former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro resigned as TMC MP in April. The TMC has 216 MLAs in the 294-member assembly and is supported by five BJP MLAs, who have joined the ruling party but are yet to resign from the House. BJP’s strength in the assembly is 70.

According to the numbers in the assembly, out of these seven Rajya Sabha seats, six will go to TMC and one to BJP.