Suvendu Adhikari appeals to minority voters ahead of Nandigram bypoll

MP, October 3, 2026, Kolkata ; With the Nandigram bypoll campaign entering its final stretch, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday made a direct appeal to minority voters, describing the October 6 by-election as an “auspicious occasion to build a friendship” with the BJP and urging them to vote for the party’s candidate to ensure the continuation of development work in the constituency. 

Adhikari was canvassing for BJP’s Nandigram candidate Hasirani Rath, mother of slain former personal assistant of the chief minister Chandranath Rath, who was pumped with bullets on the outskirts of Kolkata on May 6, a day after the Assembly election results were declared.

“Chandranath’s only crime was that he was my aide. His shooters were from Uttar Pradesh, who were employed by men from Munger in Bihar. Chandranath’s close aide had fixed the hit and delivered Rs 2 crore for the job, which was supplied by the ‘bhaipo’ (nephew) gang,” he said.

“The CBI has already made arrests and has completed 90 per cent of the job. Only the Diamond Harbour company remains to be formally linked to the crime,” Adhikari said.

Promising a “goonda-free, corruption-free” Nandigram and greater participation in development, Adhikari asked voters in Nandigram to ensure a record victory for the BJP candidate.

“Take revenge through the EVM on October 6,” Adhikari told a packed rally, before asking supporters to break the victory-margin records he had secured in Nandigram in the previous election. 

“You (minority voters) will not get a better chance to extend the hand of friendship,” he said, adding that there was no pressure on minorities to chant the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan.

“If you don’t want to say Jai Shri Ram, then don’t; say Bharat Mata ki Jai,” he maintained.

He said the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which a large section of minority voters had supported in previous elections in Nandigram, had become non-existent, having split into two parties with new names.

Addressing three campaign meetings at Birulia, Debipur and Narayanchawk in Nandigram in support of Rath, Adhikari described her as a “worthy MLA” and said his government would accelerate development in the constituency.

Highlighting the development work carried out under his government in five months, Adhikari said he will now provide three times the assistance he provided before.

“I had promised you that I would get you on trains. Within a few months, I will ensure that train services start on the Nandigram-Deshapran-Bajkul route,” he said.

The CM also indicated that he would take responsibility for restoration of the Odisha Coast Canal and bring about changes in rural economy.

“It is my duty to bring back the migrant workers of the state and to provide jobs to the youth,” he said, maintaining that recruitment examinations are being conducted by the Public Service Commission.

Launching an attack on the TMC, he said that its symbol had been “erased” from the state, referring to the Election Commission allotting different names and symbols to the Mamata Banerjee and Arup Roy factions for the October 6 assembly bypolls.

Without naming anyone, he said: “The main thief will also go to jail,” presumably referring to the arrests of several accused in corruption cases in the state.

“After winning by 15,505 votes in Bhowanipore, I had said there would be no existence of Mamata Banerjee’s party,” Adhikari said, referring to the Assembly elections.

“The party of Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee will not see the ‘two flowers and grass’ symbol in the EVM, no matter how much they try,” he claimed.

Adhikari also alleged that Banerjee had not fractured her leg during her 2021 Assembly election campaign in Nandigram.

“I never attack anybody personally. After becoming Chief Minister, I went to SSKM Hospital, and it falls under my Assembly Constituency, Bhowanipore. Doctors wrote no fracture. I have the piece of paper. I will show that when required. The door of the car hit an iron beam. The door slightly hit her leg in rebound. She put on a bandage, pretending that her leg was broken,” Adhikari alleged.

Meanwhile, during the campaign, Adhikari promised to extend Annapurna benefits to another 10,000 women if required, revive the Jilingham factory to bring migrant workers home, create industrial employment and ensure tap-water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Adhikari promised to pursue a Haldia-Nandigram bridge and a railway connection, saying he wanted Nandigram residents to have access to rail services.