Kolkata:

A birthday meet and greet at the Leader of Opposition’s office within the West Bengal assembly has set off speculation of a possible patch-up among rivals in the state BJP.

Former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh was at Suvendu Adhikari’s office in the assembly, and Mr Adhikari was seen offering sweets to Mr Ghosh on his birthday. Several MLAs seen to be close to Mr Adhikari were also present.

Within the party, Mr Adhikari and Mr Ghosh are said to be rivals. Bouquets were also presented to Mr Ghosh, under whose stewardship the BJP won 18 seats in the Lok Sabha in 2019. In 2024, that tally fell to 12.

After the 2021 assembly election defeat, Mr Ghosh was dropped as state president and was sidelined, according to political observers, and the party leadership was entrusted to Sukanta Majumdar, who has now become a Union Minister.

Mr Adhikari quit the Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly election in West Bengal.

Mr Ghosh had been speaking out after the Lok Sabha elections and many believed his cryptic messages were targeted at Mr Adhikari.

A guarded criticism – seen as directed at Mr Adhikari – was from Mr Ghosh, who led the state party during the 2019 general election and achieved far better results.

Earlier in a post on Facebook, Mr Ghosh quoted former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, some of whose maxims are still considered gold standard by the party.

“Keep one thing in mind, even one old karyakarta (party worker) of the party should not be neglected. If necessary, let 10 new karyakartas get separated. Because the old workers are the guarantee of our victory. Trusting new karyakartas too quickly is not advisable,” the post read.

The BJP is likely to appoint a new state unit chief after the induction of Sukanta Majumdar in the Union Cabinet. Sources said the BJP has not reached a decision on Mr Majumdar’s replacement yet.

One of the speculated names is Mr Ghosh, who now seems to be on friendly terms with Mr Adhikari.

Purba Medinipur (West Bengal):

The Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal and holds significant importance in the 2024 elections, especially for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

This constituency is the hometown of the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who is the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal.

BJP has fielded Suvendu Adhikari’s brother, Somendu Adhikari. as its candidate for Kanthi Lok Sabha seat against TMC’s Uttam Barik and Congress’ Urbashi Bhattacharya.

Local residents acknowledge the development work done by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. However, the local influence of ‘Dada’ (Suvendu Adhikari) is also relevant.

When discussing local issues, people said that while ‘Didi’ (Mamata Banerjee) has done well, corruption within her party is a major issue.

According to Sukumar Patra, a local, “the development work has been commendable, but the party’s corruption and scams are the main problems.”

Another local, Mirza Darbar, expressed that “there are no issues, and they want an MP who works for their basic needs – ‘roti’ (food), ‘kapda’ (clothing), and ‘makaan’ (shelter).”

Narayan Chandra Das, a senior citizen, stated that “their current ability to provide for their family is due to Mamata Banerjee, and thus, their faith lies with ‘Didi’.”

A local auto driver, Biswajit Panda, expressed a desire for more development in Kanthi and West Bengal under the Modi government.

The election in the Kanthi constituency will take place in the sixth phase on May 25.

Suvendu Adhikari’s family members held key political positions in the past and continue to wield substantial power in the region.

Sisir Adhikari and his sons Suvendu, Dibyendu, and Soumendu, have held key political positions within the TMC in the region. In December 2020, months ahead of the state assembly polls, Suvendu defected from TMC to BJP.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Suvendu Adhikari’s father, Sisir Adhikari, won the seat as a TMC candidate, defeating the BJP’s Dr Debasish Samanta. Sisir Adhikari, who had been loyal to the TMC for 23 years, joined the BJP in March 2021, following his son Suvendu’s switch from the TMC to the BJP. Sisir Adhikari had also represented the Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014.

Polling in West Bengal is being held in seven phases of Lok Sabha polls. Polling has already been done in five phases and the voting for the remaining two phases will be held on May 25 and June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4.

In the sixth phase, polling will be held on May 25 in Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Jhargram, Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Bishnupur.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Purba Medinipur:

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that to stop ‘gundaraj’ (hooliganism) in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee needs to be ‘former’ Chief Minister and people from West Bengal’s Nandigram will show how it is done.

“Gundaraj going on here. To finish this, Mamata Banerjee needs to be ‘former’ (Chief Minister). The people of Nandigram might have got jobs if they had voted for Mamata Banerjee, but they voted against her for the sake of West Bengal. Their spirit needs to be accepted by the people. We (Nandigram) know how to stop them,” Suvendu Adhikari said speaking to reporters at West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur.

Mr Adhikari said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) cannot be stopped by holding talk shows or through speeches but with the help of people.

“We will stop them with the help of people. We cannot stop them by shouting at talk shows or giving speeches at public rallies,” he said.

Speaking about the rural-urban divide which will be an impediment to removing the TMC from power, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, “People of Kolkata think Durgapuja is just a festival, we think Durgapuja is a belief and tradition of the Sanantan Hindus. There is a difference. Those who read Bartaman, Ananda Bazar won’t help us. They need time to wake up.”

Reminding the people that it used to be a popular notion that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) would not be removed from power, Mr Adhikari said that such a notion was proved wrong by people from Nandigram itself.

“At one time we used to think that CPM wouldn’t go. They have gone. The epicenter was Nandigram. In the future, they (Mamata Banerjee) will go as well and the way will be shown by the village,” the BJP leader said.

Speaking on the INDIA alliance, he said, “This is not Gatbandhan but Khatbandhan. Group 420 has conglomerated to take on India’s popular Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The people are with Narendra Modi. So they are irrelevant.”

On the Congress and CPI(M) which is in opposition in West Bengal joining hands with the TMC in the INDIA alliance, Mr Adhikari said, “Following the meeting at Patna and Mumbai, the CPM and the Congress has lost all its credibility in Bengal. You have seen in Dhugpuri that the Left and the Congress lost six per cent of its votes.”

“People have two paths before them- whether to keep thieves or remove them. If they want to keep them they will vote for Pishi-Bhaipo (aunt-nephew), if they want to remove them they will vote for BJP,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The Trinamool Congress has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and demanded action against West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari for his “inappropriate comments” on a meeting between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Dubai Airport. 

The Trinamool Congress has demanded the censure of Mr Adhikari, a BJP MLA, for “attempting to damage relations with Sri Lanka”. The party described his remarks as “malicious” and “a brazen attempt to damage India’s foreign relations”. 

It claimed Mr Adhikari had ridiculed the state of the Sri Lankan economy and the conversation of the chief minister with the leader of a foreign country. 

“We condemn LoP @SuvenduWB’s irresponsible and derogatory remarks on the Sri Lankan economy and his deliberate attempt to strain foreign ties,” the Trinamool Congress said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

We condemn LoP @SuvenduWB‘s irresponsible and derogatory remarks on the Sri Lankan economy and his deliberate attempt to strain foreign ties.

Parliamentary Party Leader, Rajya Sabha, Mr. @derekobrienmp wrote a letter to Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar seeking… pic.twitter.com/Ehoq2ZZea3

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 16, 2023

“Parliamentary Party Leader, Rajya Sabha, Mr. @derekobrienmp wrote a letter to Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar seeking immediate action against Mr. Adhikari for his vicious ploy to damage relations between the state of West Bengal and the Republic of Sri Lanka which also affects the diplomatic relations of the nation at large,” the party said.

In a post on X, Suvendu Adhikari had said, “I am guessing what conversation might have taken place between the two :- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe – I have heard that you are leading your state towards an economic crisis like what Sri Lanka is facing?  Mamata Banerjee – If you can guide me how to borrow more money from the market, I will invite you to attend the next Bengal Global Business Summit.”

I am guessing what conversation might have taken place between the two :-

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe – I have heard that you are leading your state towards an economic crisis like what Sri Lanka is facing?

Mamata Banerjee – If you can guide me how to borrow more… https://t.co/MsLTJ00Txj

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) September 13, 2023

“Ranil Wickremesinghe – But we are not in a position to invest? What good would happen by attending the Summit?  Mamata Banerjee – Don’t worry, you just come and enjoy for 2-3 days and sign an MOU. Anyways everyone comes and signs MOU and nobody invests. I am just concerned about good headlines,” the post read.

Ms Banerjee, who was on her way to Spain, had an impromptu meeting with Mr Wickremesinghe at the Dubai airport on Wednesday.