West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday made a direct pitch to minority voters in Nandigram, saying the BJP would not force them to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and that they could instead say “Bharat Mata ki Jai” as he sought their support in the October 6 bypoll.
Addressing a rally at Birulia Bazar, an area with a sizeable Muslim population, Adhikari said minority voters would gain little by continuing to turn away from the BJP, claiming that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had “ceased to exist”. Making his appeal to minority voters, Adhikari said they could choose not to chant the BJP’s familiar slogan.
“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. If you don’t feel like saying it, then don’t. Instead, say Bharat Mata ki Jai. You will not get a better opportunity than this. Shake hands, build a bond. She will offer additional support from here. Whatever public services I used to provide will continue. Come rain or cold, you will find me here. Nandigram is my seat of honour. So, why do I need to ask?”
Chandranath’s close aide had fixed the hit and delivered ₹ 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. Oct 6 is an auspicious day to build a friendship. “The BJP candidate is also an elected panchayat official from Chandipur (Nandigram block 3). In 2021, you elected me without expecting anything in return. In 2026, you made me chief minister.
At Debipur, Adhikari said he would be present in Nandigram on counting day and urged minority voters to join hands with his government. At another meeting in Narayanchak, the chief minister said it was up to minority voters to decide whether they wanted to “make friendship” with him, while pointing out that they had not voted for him in the 2021 and 2026 assembly elections. He also said minorities were among the beneficiaries of schemes such as PM Awaas and Annapurna Yojana in Nandigram. Only the Diamond Harbour company remains to be formally linked to the crime,” Adhikari said. Earlier reporting noted: Campaigning for BJP’s Hasirani Rath, mother of his murdered aide Chandranath Rath, Adhikari said, “We chant Jai Sri Ram but no one is forcing you to do the same. Prime Minister Modi works for everyone and the chief minister will also work for everyone,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: Attending back-to-back rallies in Nandigram on Friday, Adhikari promised to “do three times as much for you as I used to do as an MLA”.
Earlier reporting noted: “Will our minority brothers and sisters keep turning their faces away from us?
