Kolkata, March 22 Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari asserted on Sunday that the people of the Nandigram assembly constituency will not accept the ruling TMC candidate, as he was not involved in the anti-land acquisition movement two decades ago.
Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district was the epicenter of the anti–land acquisition movement in 2007 during the Left Front regime. The protests against a proposed chemical hub became a turning point that weakened the Left’s three-decade rule and propelled Mamata Banerjee to power.
Adhikari, as a Trinamool Congress leader then, had been at the forefront of the agitation. He joined the BJP in 2020, months before the Lok Sabha elections held next year.
“You voted for change in Nandigram, but this autocratic TMC regime has not changed. Now let's hope that your voting for the BJP in Nandigram will pave the way for dislodging the Mamata Banerjee government in the state,” Adhikari told the people of the constituency where he launched his campaign during the day.
Commenting on the candidature of his former associate Pabitra Kar, a former BJP-linked panchayat leader who recently joined the TMC, Adhikari said, "He had never been a part of the Nandigram movement and will never be accepted by the people of this area who shed blood to stop the acquisition of farmland.”
The BJP leader, who is also contesting in the Bhabanipur seat against his former mentor and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, visited Sonachura, Gokulnagar and Tekhali areas, accompanied by thousands of supporters holding saffron flags.
As the rally passed by the residence of Kar, cries like 'Chor Chor' were heard, prompting the police and security forces to throw a security cordon around the house.
However, the situation did not escalate, and Adhikari asked his supporters not to use any phrase that might be offensive or objectionable to anyone.
Adhikari also campaigned in Bhabanipur in south Kolkata, which is 140 km away from Nandigram, later in the day and interacted with voters.
He also offered prayers at the Kalighat temple, which is near the residence of his rival candidate and the CM.
"Mamata Banerjee will become an ex-CM in Bengal after May 4," he told reporters, referring to the day of counting.
Meanwhile, several other senior BJP and TMC candidates used the weekly holiday to interact with voters in various parts of the state.
In the Shyampur assembly seat in Kolkata, minister and TMC candidate Shashi Panja said, “Everyone in this area knows me. They are aware of my work and that of our chief minister. There is no need to canvass. I only asked them to head to the polling booth and cast their democratic rights."
Panja's ministerial colleague Sujit Basu campaigned in Lake Town and Sribhumi area, which is part of the Bidhannagar constituency.
In Siliguri in north Bengal, BJP candidate and opposition chief whip Shankar Ghosh campaigned, accompanied by hundreds of supporters amid the beating of drums.
"We want to ensure that Hindus don't end up as second-class citizens in Bengal and stop demographic change. We also wish to ensure the growth of Bengal,” he said.
TMC candidate and former minister Goutam Dev also campaigned during the day in Siliguri.
“I aim to maintain the momentum of development and growth under the stewardship of Mamata Banerjee and make Siliguri a part of it," Dev said.
Candidates of CPIM also took part in campaigning during the day.
Elections in the state will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.