CM Suvendu's second ‘Janata Darbar’ draws huge response as people queue up with grievances

PTI, May 25, 2026, Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday held his second weekly 'Janata Darbar', with job seekers, teachers, professionals and ordinary citizens turning up in large numbers to place their grievances directly before the state's new CM.

Long before Adhikari arrived, hundreds of people thronged the BJP state office in Salt Lake near here, turning the narrow lanes around the building into a waiting lounge.

Job aspirants carried files, and elderly citizens clutched bundles of papers, while representatives from teaching associations, nurses, women police jobseekers and others, hoping years of unanswered appeals would finally find a hearing, were present.

From early morning, long queues formed outside the party office as people carrying petitions and memoranda waited patiently for an opportunity to interact with the Chief Minister, who launched the initiative after assuming office on May 9 as part of a direct public outreach exercise.

The first 'Janata Darbar' was held on May 18.

As Adhikari reached the venue around 10 am, chants of "Jai Shri Ram", "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" echoed through the area.

Many had travelled from districts and far-flung corners of the state seeking a first-hand audience.

The gathering reflected the diversity of Bengal's social landscape — representatives of teachers' associations, Group D aspirants, medical professionals, part-time teachers, victims of alleged poll violence and individuals seeking intervention in civic and personal matters.

Inside the party office, around 100 individuals and delegations managed to place their grievances before the Chief Minister, according to party sources.

Representatives from nearly 15 organisations of jobseekers and employees submitted memoranda and highlighted recruitment and service-related concerns.

Employment-related issues dominated the interactions.

Delegates representing the group of 26,000 "eligible" school job losers appealed for restoration of jobs based on merit.

Others sought resumption of permanent recruitment in technical education institutions and raised issues concerning appointments and service conditions.

One of the day's most poignant moments came when 81-year-old Bhabanipur resident Prabir Mukhopadhyay met the Chief Minister with a complaint regarding an alleged land-for-flat dispute involving arrested businessman Biswajit Poddar alias "Sona Pappu" and promoter Joy Kamdar.