Suvendu Adhikari says President rule must for free, fair polls

“The Election Commission should see what happened today. It was proved today that without imposing President’s rule in West Bengal, Assembly elections cannot be conducted properly,” the BJP leader said.

Written by Atri Mitra

Kolkata | March 20, 2025 03:36 AM IST

2 min read

Suvendu Adhikari, Suvendu Adhikari President rule, President rule, Baruipur in South 24 Parganas, Indian express news, current affairs

Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari

After the BJP cancelled its protest march in Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district amid growing tension with rival TMC, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday called for the imposition of President’s rule in West Bengal for “free and fair” Assembly elections due next year.

Adhikari’s demand came as TMC and BJP supporters were on the verge of a clash during his protest march against Speaker Biman Banerjee in the latter’s home constituency of Baruipur.

As Adhikari and other BJP MLAs reached Baruipur, their convoy was stopped by TMC Trinamool supporters who raised “Go Back” slogans and showed black flags. Adhikari alleged that TMC workers attacked his vehicle. “My vehicle was attacked with lathi and water mixed with mirchi powder. Had I not been inside, my head would have exploded. The police remained mute spectators,” Adhikari said.

Reacting to Adhikari’s demand for President’s rule, TMC state vice-president Jaiprakash Majumdar said, “The BJP will be routed in the next year’s Assembly polls. We are not worried. People now understand Adhikari.”

Later, Adhikari announced a fresh protest march on March 27 from BJP’s Baruipur district office to SP’s office. — With PTI

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More

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