In a demonstration against the purported “citizenship test through the backdoor, using voter roll revision,” supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal raised black flags to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday in the Cooch Behar district.
#WATCH | Cooch Behar: West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari says, “The Court had granted permission to the LoP and five MLAs had a meeting with the SP. An incident happened during our arrival and after that in Khagarabari, under the leadership of Udayan Guha, a state minister, in the… https://t.co/wdkvj5m2bB pic.twitter.com/SQ8uatVGfY
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025
Rising Political Tensions in West Bengal
West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari recently faced intense protests from Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters while traveling through Cooch Behar district on August 5, 2025. The demonstrations included black flags, symbolic acts like cleansing roads with cow dung and water, and even minor damage to Adhikari’s convoy vehicle when some protesters banged on windows with bamboo sticks. These protests mark the growing political tensions in the state surrounding the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue.
BJP’s Push for NRC and TMC’s Opposition
Suvendu Adhikari was outspoken about implementing the NRC and its application in West Bengal, arguing that it was necessary to tackle illegal immigration and demographic changes which afflict that part of the country. The BJP is bringing forward this argument: NRC would be a measure of carving clear distinction between genuine citizens and securing integrity of the state. But TMC opposed this vehemently, calling it a “backdoor citizenship test” meant to disenfranchise all legitimate residents and further each of their political agendas. The two parties’ opposing viewpoints on the NRCA have polarized political parties into creating political rivalry in the state.
Accusations Political Drama
Resentful towards all protests, the BJP condemned the TMC of indicating that such demand is nothing but pre-scripted acts to intimidate the political opponent and keep stifled dissent. He alleged that TMC uses brute force and political theatrics to derail BJP’s agenda. On the other hand, TMC said all those were inflated claims and termed them “well-scripted drama” to cut sympathy among people. This whole scenario is indicative of the greater divide in-between BJP and TMC in amplifying tension in West Bengal.
With the debate over NRC holding sway on the West Bengal political stage, both sides can only vouchsafe a continuation in confrontation.
