Political Showdown in Bengal: Suvendu Adhikari Leads BJYM Protest in Siliguri, Dilip Ghosh Rallies Supporters in Kharagpur Amid TMC-BJP Tensions
Amid escalating tensions between BJP and TMC in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari spearheads a BJYM protest in Siliguri while Dilip Ghosh galvanizes party workers in Kharagpur. The twin rallies signal an aggressive campaign strategy ahead of state polls.
NewsSutra
Introduction: Political Temperatures Rise in West Bengal
West Bengal witnessed a dramatic escalation in political activity this week as two of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) most prominent leaders—Suvendu Adhikari and Dilip Ghosh—held back-to-back public rallies in Siliguri and Kharagpur. These events, coming amid renewed tensions between the BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC), reflect a sharpened political strategy as the state inches closer to the 2026 assembly elections.
While Adhikari led a high-energy Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) protest targeting the Mamata Banerjee-led government on issues ranging from corruption to unemployment, Ghosh’s event in Kharagpur emphasized worker unity and party discipline, calling for grassroots consolidation.
These rallies also mark a return to full-scale public campaigning for the BJP after months of organizational reshuffling and strategic silence, signaling the party’s intent to reclaim lost ground in the politically volatile state.
Suvendu Adhikari’s Protest in Siliguri: “People Are Fed Up with TMC’s Corruption”
On Sunday, Siliguri’s Hashmi Chowk turned into a sea of saffron as BJYM activists, joined by senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, marched through the city raising slogans against the TMC government. Dubbed the “Yuva Sankalp Rally”, the protest was organized in response to what BJP leaders claim is the “rampant misrule, extortion, and syndicate raj” under the Trinamool regime.
Adhikari, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, addressed the gathering near the Siliguri Town Hall, saying:
“From Sandeshkhali to Siliguri, the people of Bengal are fed up with the TMC’s mafia-style governance. Youth are unemployed, farmers are cheated, and women are unsafe. This is not governance—it’s tyranny.”
Adhikari also accused the Mamata government of diverting central funds, mismanaging welfare schemes like PM Awas Yojana and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and shielding corrupt ministers.
The rally ended with a symbolic gherao of the Sub-Divisional Officer’s office, where BJYM leaders submitted a memorandum listing their grievances. Party insiders said the protest was designed to mobilize youth voters, who make up a significant portion of the electorate in North Bengal.
For updated government records on welfare fund disbursement, refer to the official PMAY-G dashboard.
Police Presence and Tensions in Siliguri
As expected, the rally prompted heightened security measures. Over 600 police personnel were deployed across Siliguri, with riot control units and surveillance drones monitoring crowd movement. A brief scuffle broke out near Hill Cart Road, where BJP youth workers clashed with police after being prevented from breaching barricades.
No arrests were reported, but BJP leaders accused the state administration of deliberate provocation and excessive force, warning of more aggressive protests if their demands are not met.
Dilip Ghosh’s Kharagpur Meet: “The Time for In-Fighting is Over”
While Suvendu energized North Bengal, former West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh returned to his stronghold in Kharagpur to hold a “Karyakarta Sanmelan”—a worker solidarity event aimed at restoring unity within the party’s grassroots structure.
Held at the Kharagpur Railway Institute Hall, the closed-door session was attended by over 500 booth-level workers, mandal heads, and district conveners. Ghosh’s speech stressed discipline, coordination, and communication as the keys to winning the next election.
“Let us not waste time fighting each other. Our real opponent is Mamata Banerjee, not our own party members. If the karyakartas are united, no one can stop BJP in 2026.”
He also called for frequent door-to-door outreach, digital campaigns, and coordinated WhatsApp groups at booth level. Ghosh’s team distributed campaign kits, voter data sheets, and organizational literature to rekindle enthusiasm among cadres.
This event is widely seen as an attempt by Ghosh to reassert relevance within the party, especially after being sidelined during BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha campaign in the state.
TMC’s Response: “BJP is Doing Drama”
Reacting to the twin rallies, TMC leaders dismissed them as “theatrics by frustrated leaders”. Senior TMC MP Derek O’Brien said:
“When you have nothing positive to offer, you resort to stunts. Bengal voters rejected BJP in 2021 and again in 2024. This protest politics will not work anymore.”
TMC’s Silpa Saha, MLA from Siliguri, questioned the credibility of BJP’s youth wing:
“Where was BJYM when youth were dying for jobs? These rallies are not about people—they’re about saving face after repeated defeats.”
TMC sources confirmed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for an internal report on the BJP’s activities in North Bengal and is expected to hold a counter-rally in Darjeeling next week.
For information on Bengal’s official electoral records and public expenditure, see the Election Commission of India and West Bengal Finance Department.
Broader Implications: Why These Rallies Matter
Political analysts say that both rallies reveal deeper shifts in West Bengal’s political chessboard.
-
BJP’s Strategy Reboot: After setbacks in 2021 and 2024, the BJP appears to be reworking its ground game, especially in regions like North Bengal, Paschim Medinipur, and Hooghly, where it still commands strong pockets of support.
-
Leadership Rivalries Surface: The parallel events by Suvendu Adhikari and Dilip Ghosh also expose internal factionalism within the BJP. However, public unity in rhetoric suggests the party is trying to present a united front to the electorate.
-
TMC’s Vulnerability in the Hills: While Mamata Banerjee remains popular in the South, her party faces significant resistance in hill districts and border constituencies, where the BJP has cleverly positioned itself as the protector of Hindu and tribal interests.
-
Youth Mobilization is Key: With over 20% of Bengal’s voters aged under 30, both parties are investing heavily in youth wings, social media campaigns, and college outreach.
Conclusion: The Road to 2026 Begins Now
Though the next West Bengal Assembly election is still over a year away, the contours of the campaign are already taking shape. Suvendu Adhikari’s combative BJYM protest and Dilip Ghosh’s calls for worker unity show that the BJP is recalibrating its strategy, focusing equally on street agitation and internal reorganization.
Meanwhile, the TMC is bracing for a long-drawn battle, with its leadership alert to signs of unrest in northern and western districts. Both sides know that early momentum often shapes voter perception, and these rallies may set the tone for a fierce, high-voltage electoral season in West Bengal.
Whether these moves will translate into votes remains to be seen, but the intensity of political mobilization suggests that Bengal’s battle lines are being redrawn—and this time, no one is leaving anything to chance.
