BJP chief Suvendu Adhikari courts Nandigram minorities ahead of by-poll
West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari appealed to minority voters in Nandigram, saying the BJP would not force them to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and urging support for the October 6 by-poll.
Suvendu Adhikari, West Bengal’s chief minister, launched a direct outreach to minority voters in Nandigram, assuring them that the BJP would not compel the chant “Jai Shri Ram” and offering the alternative “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Speaking at Birulia Bazar, he urged the community to support the party in the upcoming October 6 by-poll and pledged his presence on counting day. Adhikari cited development schemes such as PM Awaas and Annapurna Yojana as benefits for minorities in the area.
He also criticised the Trinamool Congress, asserting that its name and twin-flower symbol have effectively disappeared following a factional split. The campaign included rallies in Debipur and Narayanchak, where he called for a friendship with the BJP and warned that the TMC had “ceased to exist.” Additionally, Adhikari linked the murder of his former aide Chandranath Rath to a criminal gang, noting CBI arrests related to the case.
Why it matters
The speech signals the BJP’s strategy to win minority votes in a key West Bengal by-poll, potentially reshaping the state’s political balance.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report Suvendu Adhikari's outreach to minorities in Nandigram, but left-leaning coverage emphasizes the BJP's promises and criticism of the TMC, while centrist coverage highlights the Muslim youths' establishment of a temporary BJP office and the party's inclusive messaging.
LEFT
Frames the story as the BJP courting minority voters with assurances against forced chants, development promises, and attacks on the TMC.
CENTER
Frames the story as a grassroots response, noting Muslim youths setting up a BJP office and the party’s call for friendship and universal outreach.
The left emphasises
- the BJP will not force the chant “Jai Shri Ram” and offers “Bharat Mata ki Jai”
- development schemes such as PM Awaas and Annapurna Yojana for minorities
- criticises the Trinamool Congress as effectively disappeared
In this story
