Suvendu Adhikari, the influential Leader of Opposition for the BJP in the West Bengal Assembly, encountered a series of protests across the South 24 Parganas district on Sunday while participating in Kali Puja festivities.
Speaking to reporters after the incidents, Mr. Adhikari asserted that his vehicle had been targeted and attacked in multiple locations. He took to social media platform X to allege that these disruptions, acts of vandalism, and general chaos were orchestrated by ‘illegal Bangladeshi Muslims’ and directly facilitated by TMC Zila Parishad member Rekha Gazi, with the full backing of SP Koteswara Rao. He also shared what he claimed was a video depicting one of these confrontational events.
While Mr. Adhikari maintained that he was specifically attacked en route to Raidighi, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) promptly dismissed these accusations, stating that the locals were merely expressing genuine grievances.
Among the hundreds of demonstrators, many of whom were women, posters were displayed demanding that the Central government release funds owed to West Bengal. Protesters successfully blocked Mr. Adhikari’s convoy, chanting slogans in opposition.
Voter Roll Scrutiny: SIR and Allegations of Illegal Immigrants
The BJP leader emphasized that his presence was for religious Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations, not a political event. However, he also used the occasion to reiterate his strong support for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. He controversially stated that the names of the ‘Bangladeshi Muslims’ he held responsible for attacking his vehicle would be systematically removed from the electoral rolls once the SIR process is complete.
In response, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh distanced his party from the protests, stating, “The core issue is the public’s growing anger towards the BJP’s policies. People are acutely aware that essential funds, especially for housing, have been withheld by the BJP-led Centre but were subsequently provided by our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This widespread disillusionment is leading people to reject the BJP’s political agenda.”
These protests follow closely on the heels of another incident, just a day prior, where Raju Bista, a BJP MP from Darjeeling, claimed his convoy was attacked. Earlier, on October 6, two other BJP figures, MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Sankar Ghosh, reported being attacked in Nagrakata by individuals alleged to be Trinamool Congress supporters while they were visiting flood-affected areas. Mr. Adhikari himself has faced similar confrontations in the past, including an alleged attack on his convoy at Khagrabari on August 5, an incident he described as a conspiracy against his life. Over recent years, several prominent BJP leaders in the state, including former State party presidents Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar, have reported experiencing similar attacks, consistently attributing them to TMC supporters.