Suvendu Adhikari not to contest Bengal polls; slams Mamata's 'extortionist' nephew

Calling upon people to dislodge the 'corrupt' Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, former state transport minister and newly inducted BJP member Suvendu Adhikari said that his only aim is to save the state from the hands of Mamata Banerjee’s ‘extortionist’ nephew Abhishek.

Since the time Adhikari had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, speculation was rife that he would be the party’s Bengal’s chief ministerial face in the 2021 Assembly elections.

Putting an end to all such speculation, Adhikari clarified that he was not interested in contesting the Bengal state Assembly polls to be held in April/May 2021.

Addressing his first public rally for the BJP in North Bardhaman, Adhikari said, “Will tell the party that I don’t need a ticket to be an MLA. I am ready to work 16 hours a day, but all I want is to free the people from Trinamool Congress’s rule.”

Reiterating his earlier stand when he had joined BJP this Saturday, Adhikari said,”I have told everyone from Amitji, (Amit Shah) to Dilip-da (Dilip Ghosh) that my only aim is to save Bengal from the hands of the extortionist nephew.

Suvendu Adhikari also thanked Amit Shah for directing the Border Security Force to stop illegal transport/smuggling of cows, coal and stones. “If TMC wins, they will also start smuggling kidneys,” charged Adhikari.

Replying to why he quit the TMC, Adhikari said that the party has been converted into a private company. “Only one-and-half people are running the party. Those who have bit of self-respect will not stay in the party.”

He also attacked the state government for the rising unemployment. “There are nearly 2 crore unemployed people in Bengal. They have got rid of many permanent jobs. Since 2014, State Service Exam (SSE) has not been conducted,” said Adhikari.

He had joined the BJP along with nine MLAs of different parties and a TMC MP at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in Midnapore on Saturday, ending weeks of speculation. Adhikari resigned from the Trinamool Congress earlier last week, besides giving up his cabinet portfolios in the Mamata Banerjee government. He has also resigned as an MLA.

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