Senior Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari attributed the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls to a lack of support from minorities in the state. Addressing the BJP’s state executive committee meeting, Adhikari suggested scrapping the party’s Minority Morcha and moving away from the motto ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.
New Motto Proposed
Adhikari proposed a new motto for the party: ‘Hum unke saath jo hamare saath’ (we are with those who are with us). He emphasized that the BJP should focus on supporting those who support the party, rather than trying to win over minority communities.
Clarification of Remarks
Following backlash, Adhikari clarified his statement, insisting that his words were taken out of context. He stated that the party should support nationalist individuals who stand for the nation and Bengal. He also mentioned that the party should not divide people into majority and minority groups, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas’.
Minority Electorate in West Bengal
Minorities make up nearly 30% of the electorate in West Bengal. Adhikari’s remarks come in the context of the BJP’s slogan evolution, from ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ in 2014 to ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ in 2019.
Accusations Against TMC
Adhikari claimed that during the recent Lok Sabha polls, Hindus were prevented from voting by “Jihadi goons of the TMC” in many areas. He asserted that free and fair elections are not possible in West Bengal without implementing the Disturbed Areas Act. He emphasized that the BJP does not seek to gain power through the President’s Rule but aims to win elections with a fair mandate.
TMC’s Victory and BJP’s Losses
The remarks from Adhikari come shortly after the BJP lost by-polls in three assembly seats, all of which were won by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). In the recent Lok Sabha polls, TMC secured 29 seats, while the BJP won just 12 seats.
TMC’s Response
Reacting to Adhikari’s remarks, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of making excuses to placate their cadre base following the Lok Sabha defeat. Ghosh suggested that the BJP’s internal strategy and leadership were the primary reasons for their poor performance, rather than external factors.