Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, May 8: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a sharp attack on Mamata Banerjee while announcing Suvendu Adhikari as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chief Ministerial face in West Bengal following the party’s historic Assembly election victory.

Addressing a key BJP meeting, Shah said Adhikari had defeated Banerjee on her “home turf” in Bhabanipur.

“Suvendu da ne ghar mein aa ke haraya,” Shah remarked, referring to Adhikari’s victory over Mamata Banerjee in south Kolkata.

He described the BJP’s massive mandate as a turning point in West Bengal politics and said, “Didi ka supra saaf ho gaya.”

The BJP named Adhikari, 55, as the leader of its legislative party, paving the way for him to become the state’s first BJP Chief Minister.

Shah said West Bengal had suffered for decades due to weakening democracy and deteriorating law and order, and claimed the state was now entering a “new phase”.

He said the BJP now had the responsibility of fulfilling the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Highlighting the scale of the victory, Shah stated that the BJP emerged as the leading party in 20 out of 30 districts and secured major wins in Purba Medinipur, Asansol, Purulia and Bankura.

“There is not a single district where we do not have an MLA,” he said.

The Home Minister also praised the high voter turnout and peaceful conduct of the elections.

“Polling crossed 93 per cent. Both phases concluded without a single death,” he said, congratulating the Election Commission of India, security personnel and state officials.

Rejecting allegations of polarisation, Shah said issues related to national security would be addressed firmly “booth by booth” across the country.

He also criticised the Congress leadership over repeated electoral defeats, saying political parties that avoid introspection cannot achieve lasting success.

Congratulating Adhikari, Shah described him as a “fighter” with deep grassroots connections and expressed confidence in his leadership.

“The administration created many hurdles, yet Suvendu ji carried on with determination. The struggle he carried out has produced results today,” Shah said.

Thanking the people of West Bengal for supporting the BJP, Shah alleged that free and fair voting had become difficult in the state over the years, beginning from the Left era and continuing under the Trinamool Congress government.

Calling upon BJP workers to realise the vision of “Sonar Bangla”, Shah invoked lines associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and said Bengal was moving towards a future “where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.”

The BJP ended the 15-year rule of the All India Trinamool Congress by winning 207 of the 293 Assembly seats, while the TMC was reduced to 80 seats.

Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee for the second time in elections, after previously defeating her in Nandigram during the 2021 Assembly polls.