BJP Accuses TMC of Suppressing Democracy Ahead of Bhawanipur Elections

Kolkata, March 30: Amid rising political tensions in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of suppressing democratic rights.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya held a press conference at the party headquarters in Kolkata on Sunday. He stated that the voices of the opposition are being stifled, leading to a violation of fundamental democratic rights.

“In any democracy, the right to dissent is crucial. However, in West Bengal, the opposition is not even granted this constitutional right,” Bhattacharya remarked.

He highlighted that Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has had to approach the courts over 104 times to secure permissions for political rallies and meetings.

Additionally, he noted that Adhikari was suspended from the assembly for 11 months, reflecting the serious political climate in the state.

BJP leaders also recalled an attack on Adhikari following the 2021 Nandigram elections, where it was alleged that some individuals attempted to set his vehicle on fire with petrol.

Bhattacharya claimed that the TMC is struggling to field a strong candidate against Adhikari in Nandigram.

During this event, Suvendu Adhikari was officially handed the BJP’s election symbol to contest from the Bhawanipur assembly seat. He expressed his intention to directly challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her stronghold of Bhawanipur.

After receiving the election symbol, Adhikari will pay tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee before heading to Bhawanipur.

He announced that he will file his nomination for the Nandigram seat on March 30 at 12 PM.

The event will also see the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, and Uttar Pradesh government minister J.P.S. Rathore, among other leaders.

Bhattacharya also mentioned the historical significance of the BJP office located at 6 Murli Dhar Sen Lane in Kolkata, which has been the heart and soul of the party in West Bengal, serving as a base for many senior leaders.

While most of the party’s activities are now conducted from a new office in Salt Lake, the old headquarters still holds emotional significance for the workers.

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DSC