Suvendu Adhikari Criticizes Mamata Banerjee Amidst West Bengal Elections
In a recent political rally, Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP candidate for West Bengal, sharply criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the TMC, accusing them of corruption and divisive politics. He expressed confidence in a significant shift in voter sentiment, predicting a complete defeat for the TMC in the upcoming elections. With a remarkable voter turnout of 91.91% in the first phase of the elections, Adhikari emphasized the growing public engagement and support for the BJP. His comments reflect a broader trend of nationalistic sentiments aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, as evidenced by recent shifts in party affiliations among AAP MPs. The political landscape in West Bengal is heating up as the elections approach, with high stakes for all parties involved.
| Apr 25, 2026, 14:57 IST
Suvendu Adhikari's Strong Critique of TMC Leadership
On Saturday, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal and BJP candidate for Nandigram and Bhawanipur, launched a fierce attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He accused them of corruption, appeasement politics, and a decline in public support. Referring to the ongoing political battle in his constituencies, Adhikari stated, "Mamata Banerjee and Firhad Hakim have been ahead in this area until now, but this time they will not maintain their lead. The TMC will face a complete wipeout this time."
He further accused the ruling party of dividing society, asserting that Banerjee's appeasement politics is responsible for this division. In response to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) raids related to the ration distribution scam, Adhikari alleged widespread corruption linked to the state's leadership. He remarked, "The ED will go to the thief's house. Just as the fodder scam occurred in Bihar, a grain scam has taken place here." He also claimed that Jyotipriya Mallick had looted the public, with 75% of that money going to Mamata Banerjee's residence.
Commenting on the recent joining of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs into the BJP, Adhikari noted that this reflects a growing trend towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He stated, "Those who are nationalists are accepting Prime Minister Modi's leadership."
He also mentioned AAP leader Raghav Chadha, saying, "Raghav Chadha is an educated individual; it took him some time, but he has realized that making India prosperous and strong is only possible under Prime Minister Modi's leadership." Meanwhile, voting for 152 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded on Thursday under tight security. The first phase saw a voter turnout of 91.91%, indicating strong public participation in the elections.
In several districts of West Bengal, over 90% voter turnout was recorded. South Dinajpur had the highest turnout at 94.85%, followed by Cooch Behar at 94.54%, Birbhum at 93.70%, Jalpaiguri at 93.23%, and Murshidabad at 92.93%. These figures demonstrate a consistent increase in participation across all districts, with all major areas recording over 90% turnout. In comparison, the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections saw a turnout of 85.2%. These statistics reinforce the trend of heightened voter engagement in both states during the elections.