West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari organised a rally and a BJP membership drive in Sandeshkhali on Tuesday, just a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee conducted an administrative event in the same area.
Controversy erupted at the beginning of the rally as the police claimed the BJP had not obtained the necessary permission for the event held on government premises.
Reportedly, the police also advised Adhikari against attending the event, citing potential threats to his life from extremists in this border region. The BJP leader, however, dismissed the claim, stating he had received no such warning from the authorities.
On Monday, CM Banerjee accused the BJP of spreading misinformation and conspiring to tarnish Sandeshkhali's image by allegedly bribing locals to fabricate stories.
“It was a game of money and money only. People were intentionally misled. But lies cannot last forever,” she had said.
The following day, LoP Adhikari countered her by honouring women who, the BJP claimed, had been allegedly tortured by men led by Sheikh Shahjahan, a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader.
Shahjahan was arrested earlier this year on allegations of land-grabbing and orchestrating an attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, along with his associates who were accused of sexually harassing women.
During his speech, Adhikari criticised CM Banerjee for allegedly neglecting development in Sandeshkhali and surrounding areas. He accused her of acting like an opposition leader or a newly elected chief minister.
“[When asked about building a new bridge] she responds vaguely, saying she’ll see what can be done. Elect the BJP instead, and we’ll ensure the bridge is built with support from the central government,” LoP Adhikari said.
Throughout his speech, the 54-year-old MLA from Nandigram advocated for "Hindu unity", urging the crowd to ensure that all Hindu voters support the BJP. His remarks carried communal undertones, as he criticised minorities and emphasised the importance of securing victories in Hindu-majority seats.
“It’s possible to win solely with Hindu votes,” LoP Adhikari asserted. “I proved that in Nandigram during the 2021 Assembly elections, in Contai with my brother, and with Abhijit Ganguly in Tamluk [during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls].”
He also highlighted BJP candidate Rekha Patra's lead in the Sandeshkhali assembly segment, despite her loss in the Basirhat parliamentary constituency in this year’s general elections.
The Sandeshkhali controversy, which shook Indian politics ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, began with the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5 this year. Now, with consecutive rallies by the chief minister and the leader of the opposition in the final days of the year, this remote area in North 24 Parganas has once again returned to the political spotlight.
