West Bengal CM and State BJP president speak in different voices on minority voters

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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari with state BJP President Samik Bhattacharya. File | Photo Credit: PTI

A day after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called the by-polls at Nandigram and Rejinagar a ‘test’ for minority voters, State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that the party does not distinguish between majority and minority voters.

“I will conclude by making an appeal to the minorities of Nandigram and Rejinagar. An opportunity has come your way. Whether you want to stand with the government or not. If you want to stand with the government and the chief minister and work hand-in-hand and secure more opportunities, your test will be on October 6 in Rejinagar and Nandigram. I leave it to you whether you want to pass or fail the test,” the Chief Minister had said on Tuesday (September 15, 2026).

Mr. Adhikari made the remarks after participating in a rally during the filing of nomination papers by BJP candidate from Nandigram Hasirani Rath.

When asked about his reaction to the remarks made by the Chief Minister, the State BJP president said that his party is opposed to any division of minority or majority voters.

“We are opposed to any division of voters on the grounds of being a minority or majority. We do not consider anyone a minority and anyone a majority; we consider every resident of West Bengal as our own. After getting a two-thirds majority in the elections, we are for everyone,” Samik Bhattacharya said on Wednesday (September 16, 2026).

The BJP Rajya Sabha MP said those who are telling the Muslim that the BJP is opposed to them should realise that there has not been a single communal riot in the State after the BJP coming to power.

“In the past those who were killed and those who were killing were both Muslims,” he said. Mr. Bhattacharya also reflected on the poor socio-economic condition of Muslims and said that everyone will have to exist together.

Nandigram has about 25 % Muslim voters, and the electors from the minority community have not supported the BJP candidates. The constituency is turning out to be a prestige fight for Mr. Adhikari, as after getting elected from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, the Chief Minister vacated Nandigram.

Mr. Adhikari defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram by a margin of 1956 votes in 2021, and in 2026 his margin over the Trinamool Congress candidate was 9665 votes.

Rejinagar in Murshidabad is a minority dominated constituency, and the constituency has elected Aam Janata Unnyan Party (AJUP) leader Humayun Kabir by a margin of 50,000 votes. The BJP has nominated Sakharav Sarkar from Rejinagar, where by-polls will be held with Nandigram on October 6.

This is not the first time that the Chief Minister and Bengal BJP president have appeared to have different views. On the issue of having and offering non-vegetarian food, Mr. Adhikari backed Madhya Pradesh-based religious preacher Dhirendra Krishna Sashtri’s appeal to go vegetarian whereas Mr. Bhattacharya said that none can stop Bengalis from non-vegetarian food.

“I want to appeal to the Hindus of Bengal that during Navratri, even if you don’t keep the idols of the Goddess, do not sell non-veg near the idols,” the self-styled godman had said during an event at Liluah in Howrah on September 6.

“How can Bengalis not have fish and meat? Even Swami Vivekananda said Ma Kali will have mutton [as an offering]. It is dangerous if someone tries to rise above Vivekananda. This is his (Shastri’s) personal opinion,” Mr. Bhattacharya had said on September 7.

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