Kamtapur Progressive Party
Encyclopedia
Kamtapur Progressive Party (now merged with Kamtapur People's Party) was a political party
in northern West Bengal
, India
. Atul Roy was the president of the party. The party was formed after a split from the Kamtapur People's Party, ahead of the 2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election
. The party demanded the formation of a Kamtapur
state. KPP was a part of the National Democratic Alliance
.
state, the Kamtapur Progressive Party and the Kamtapur People's Party had similar positions. The relation between the two parties was not very good however, as both blamed each other for the split in Kamtapur People's Party. Also, they diverged on the issue of support to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
(GJM). The Kamtapur Progressive Party was supportive of the GJM, whilst the Kamtapur People's Party opposed it. The Kamtapur People's Party rejected including lands they considered as belonging to Kamtapuris to be included in a Gorkhaland
state. The Kamtapur Progressive Party on the other hand was less vocal on the exact delimitations between prospective Gorkhaland and Kamtapur states. The GJM and Kamtapur Progressive Party were cooperating with the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party
, which was spearheading the campaign for a 'Greater Cooch Behar' state.
The Kamtapur Progressive Party also campaigned for constitutional recognition for the Kamtapuri dialect.
, Kamtapur Progressive Party announced that it would support the Bharatiya Janata Party
candidate Jaswant Singh
in the Darjeeling constituency
. The announcement was made after the BJP had pledged support for the central KPP demand of forming a 'Kamtapur state' out of the northern districts of West Bengal. Subsequently, the Nationalist Congress Party
candidate in Darjeeling (who had been supported by the KPP), Shanta Kumar Singha, withdrew his candidature.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in northern West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Atul Roy was the president of the party. The party was formed after a split from the Kamtapur People's Party, ahead of the 2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election
West Bengal state assembly election, 2006
The West Bengal state assembly election of 2006, part of a series of state assembly elections in 2006, was scheduled to occur in five phases. The election took place in the following manner — for 45 assembly constituency s occurred on April 17, 2006; 66 ACs on April 22, 77 ACs on April 27, 57 ACs...
. The party demanded the formation of a Kamtapur
Kamtapur
Kamtapur is the name of a state proposed in north West Bengal and Assam by the Rajbongshi people. The proposed state comprises some districts of West Bengal and other contiguous districts of Assam. This statehood demand is mostly led by Kamtapur People's Party....
state. KPP was a part of the National Democratic Alliance
National Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
.
Statehood issue
On the issue of the formation of a KamtapurKamtapur
Kamtapur is the name of a state proposed in north West Bengal and Assam by the Rajbongshi people. The proposed state comprises some districts of West Bengal and other contiguous districts of Assam. This statehood demand is mostly led by Kamtapur People's Party....
state, the Kamtapur Progressive Party and the Kamtapur People's Party had similar positions. The relation between the two parties was not very good however, as both blamed each other for the split in Kamtapur People's Party. Also, they diverged on the issue of support to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is a registered political party which campaigns for the creation of a separate state within India, out of districts in the north of West Bengal...
(GJM). The Kamtapur Progressive Party was supportive of the GJM, whilst the Kamtapur People's Party opposed it. The Kamtapur People's Party rejected including lands they considered as belonging to Kamtapuris to be included in a Gorkhaland
Gorkhaland
Gorkhaland is the name of the proposed state in India demanded by the Nepali/Gorkhali-speaking Nepali/Gorkha ethnic group in Darjeeling and the Dooars in north West Bengal....
state. The Kamtapur Progressive Party on the other hand was less vocal on the exact delimitations between prospective Gorkhaland and Kamtapur states. The GJM and Kamtapur Progressive Party were cooperating with the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party
Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party
The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party is a political party in the northern areas of West Bengal, India. The party strives to create a separate 'Greater Cooch Behar' state. The GCBDP was founded in 2006, after a split in the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association . Ashutosh Barma is the...
, which was spearheading the campaign for a 'Greater Cooch Behar' state.
The Kamtapur Progressive Party also campaigned for constitutional recognition for the Kamtapuri dialect.
2009 election
In mid-April 2009, ahead of the Lok Sabha electionIndian general election, 2009
India held general elections to the 15th Lok Sabha in five phases between 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009. With an electorate of 714 million , it was the largest democratic election in the world to date.By constitutional requirement, elections to the Lok Sabha must be...
, Kamtapur Progressive Party announced that it would support the Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
candidate Jaswant Singh
Jaswant Singh
- Career :He is one of the few Indian politicians to have been the Minister for Defence, Finance and External Affairs.He started the new government of Vajpayee, which lasted its full term, as the External Affairs Minister and later on switched his ministry to Finance with Yashwant Sinha...
in the Darjeeling constituency
Darjeeling (Lok Sabha Constituency)
Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 543 parliamentary constituencies in India. The constituency centres on Darjeeling in West Bengal.-Election results:-1951-1971:The winners are shown below. -1977-2004:-See also:...
. The announcement was made after the BJP had pledged support for the central KPP demand of forming a 'Kamtapur state' out of the northern districts of West Bengal. Subsequently, the Nationalist Congress Party
Nationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
candidate in Darjeeling (who had been supported by the KPP), Shanta Kumar Singha, withdrew his candidature.