BJP puts up united front as Suvendu Adhikari files nomination for Nandigram

The Bharatiya Janta Party on Monday (March 30) put up a united front as Suvendu Adhikari filed his nomination for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Former BJP State president Dilip Ghosh accompanied the Leader of Opposition as he filed his nomination for his candidature in Nandigram.

For these high-stakes polls, the BJP has fielded him from two seats, one in Nandigram, from where he defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2021. He is also contesting from Bhawanipur, the home constituency of Ms. Banerjee, where she has won in all past three elections since she came to power overthrowing the Left.

Mr. Adhikari filed his nomination to the sub-divisional officer (SDO) at Haldia in Purba Medinipur district. He was accompanied by Mr. Ghosh and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They took out a rally on his way to file the nomination.

“There will surely be a BJP sarkar (government) in Bengal this time. I also promise that just like Nandigram, Mamata Banerjee will also lose from Bhawanipur this time,” Mr. Adhikari said before he formally filed his nomination.

Even though Mr. Ghosh was once sidelined in the BJP, ahead of the Assembly polls they are seen putting up a united front against the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Along with the LoP, two other candidates from Purba Medinipur’s Mahishadal and Haldia also filed their nomination.

West Bengal is going to polls on April 23 and 29. The first will have elections in 152 seats and the second phase will cover 142 seats. The last date for filing nomination for the first phase is April 6, and April 9 for the second phase. The vote counting is on May 4.

Meanwhile, BJP leadership also accused Ms. Banerjee of threatening voters and intimidating them. They also filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission against the issue.

“A series of grave and disturbing public statements made by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, during the ongoing electoral process, delivered across

multiple public rallies,” the letter stated. They accused that it was in direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct that is imposed on every State after the elections are declared.

They asked the ECI to take immediate action against Ms. Banerjee’s comments and asked her to be barred from taking part in the election campaigns.

A delegation of the BJP’s senior leadership went to the ECI office in Delhi. Lok Sabha MP Sukanta Majumdar accused that out of desperation the CM is now “threatening voters.”

“They want to incite such violence that people are forced to say that they do not support the BJP. They are threatening voters because Mamata Banerjee is scared that she is losing this election,” Mr. Majumdar said.