Suvendu Targeting Opposition Like Mamata Did, Says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Accuses Suvendu Adhikari of Targeting Opposition

Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of targeting Opposition parties in a manner similar to what he alleges was done by Mamata Banerjee during her tenure as chief minister.

Speaking to The Economic Times, Chowdhury alleged that the ruling dispensation was using state power against Opposition parties and candidates ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly bypolls. He said Adhikari had effectively adopted tactics that Chowdhury associated with the previous TMC government.

The remarks come at a politically sensitive time in West Bengal, with bypolls scheduled in Nandigram and Rejinagar on October 6.

What Did Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Say?

Chowdhury alleged that the current government's approach towards Opposition parties was similar to what he said Opposition groups had experienced under Mamata Banerjee's government.

He accused the state administration of using its power against Opposition parties and candidates and said Adhikari had "taken a leaf out of Mamata Banerjee's book".

These are Chowdhury's political allegations. The comments do not constitute an independent finding that the state government has unlawfully targeted Opposition parties.

Nandigram Bypoll Is at the Centre of the Dispute

The remarks come against the backdrop of the Nandigram Assembly bypoll, which has become one of the most closely watched political contests in the state.

The seat became vacant after Suvendu Adhikari retained Bhabanipur following the 2026 Assembly elections and gave up Nandigram.

The BJP has fielded Hasirani Rath, the mother of Chandranath Rath, a former aide of Adhikari who was killed in May 2026.

The Congress candidate is Milan Pradhan, whose legal proceedings have become another major issue in the campaign.

Congress Candidate Milan Pradhan's Arrest

Milan Pradhan was arrested in connection with cases dating back to the 2007 Nandigram land agitation.

His arrest became a major political issue after former chief minister Mamata Banerjee's faction withdrew its candidate from the Nandigram contest and announced support for Pradhan.

Congress and the Mamata-led faction have questioned the timing of the arrest, while the legal proceedings are being dealt with through the courts. The allegations against Pradhan remain subject to the judicial process.

The Calcutta High Court has subsequently dealt with his requests for protection in connection with the cases, adding a legal dimension to the election campaign.

Mamata Faction's Candidate Withdrew

Another development highlighted by Chowdhury was the withdrawal of the candidate fielded by the Mamata-led TMC faction.

Sanchita Pradhan Dey had initially been named as the faction's candidate for Nandigram but subsequently withdrew from the contest.

Mamata Banerjee's faction then extended support to Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

Chowdhury described the change as evidence of what he called inconsistency in the TMC faction's approach to the bypolls.

Adhir Says Congress Will Continue the Contest

Chowdhury said Congress candidates, including Pradhan in Nandigram and the party's candidate in Rejinagar, would continue to contest despite the developments surrounding the elections.

He presented Congress as the party consistently opposing the BJP in the current political circumstances.

That statement reflects Chowdhury's political position rather than an independent assessment of the relative strength of the parties in the bypolls.

TMC's Internal Dispute Adds to the Complexity

The Nandigram contest has also been affected by an internal dispute within the Trinamool Congress.

The Election Commission has frozen the original TMC name and election symbol for the rival factions ahead of the bypolls. The factions have been required to contest under separate names and symbols while the dispute over party identity continues.

Mamata Banerjee has challenged the Election Commission's decision in the Supreme Court, with the apex court agreeing to urgently list her plea.

The dispute has consequently become both an organisational and electoral issue for the two factions.

Congress and TMC Have Uneasy Political Relations

Congress and the TMC are both part of the broader INDIA opposition grouping at the national level, but their relationship in West Bengal has frequently been marked by competition.

The Nandigram developments have produced an unusual situation in which the Mamata-led faction is supporting a Congress candidate in the bypoll.

Chowdhury's comments therefore come at a time when the two parties are simultaneously cooperating in one constituency while remaining political competitors in the state.

Chowdhury Also Raised the SIR Issue

The Congress leader also linked his criticism to the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.

Chowdhury is among the petitioners who have approached the Supreme Court over the SIR process.

He referred to recent observations by the Supreme Court and West Bengal High Court concerning the processing of appeals by voters whose names had been removed from electoral rolls.

Chowdhury criticised the Election Commission's handling of the process, describing it in political terms as "electoral anarchy".

The Election Commission has maintained that electoral-roll revision is intended to identify and remove ineligible, duplicate, deceased or shifted voters while retaining eligible electors.

What Is Happening in Rejinagar?

The political contest is not limited to Nandigram.

Rejinagar is also scheduled to vote on October 6. The constituency has become part of the wider dispute over the TMC's internal division and the competition among Congress, BJP, Left parties and the rival TMC factions.

The two bypolls are therefore being watched as an indicator of how the political landscape is developing following the 2026 Assembly elections.

Why Nandigram Remains Politically Significant

Nandigram has played an important role in West Bengal politics for more than a decade.

The constituency became nationally prominent during the land-acquisition protests of 2007 and later became associated with the political rise of Suvendu Adhikari.

The 2021 Assembly election in Nandigram also attracted considerable attention because Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in the constituency.

The current bypoll therefore carries significance beyond the immediate vacancy in the Assembly.

Political Allegations Remain Contested

The claims made by Chowdhury form part of an ongoing political dispute between Congress, the BJP government and the TMC factions.

His allegation that Adhikari is using state power against the Opposition has not been established by a court or an independent investigation cited in the current reports.

Similarly, political claims concerning the motivations behind candidate withdrawals, arrests or administrative actions should be distinguished from the underlying legal and electoral proceedings.

The courts and election authorities will determine the relevant legal and procedural questions.

Nandigram Bypoll at a Glance

IssueCurrent positionConstituencyNandigramPolling dateOctober 6, 2026Congress candidateMilan PradhanBJP candidateHasirani RathMamata factionWithdrew its candidate and backed CongressMain political disputeOpposition competition and TMC factional conflictOther major issueLegal proceedings involving Milan PradhanTMC statusOriginal name and symbol frozen pending disputeCongress voiceAdhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticised the state government

What Happens Next?

The focus will now shift to the October 6 bypolls and the campaign in both Nandigram and Rejinagar.

The legal proceedings involving Milan Pradhan, the Election Commission's handling of the TMC identity dispute and the continuing SIR controversy are all likely to remain part of the political debate.

The Supreme Court's consideration of Mamata Banerjee's challenge to the Election Commission's order could also affect the broader political context surrounding the bypolls.

Bottom Line

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of targeting Opposition parties in a manner similar to what Chowdhury alleges occurred under Mamata Banerjee's government.

His remarks come amid heightened tensions ahead of the October 6 Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls, where the political landscape has been complicated by TMC factional disputes, the withdrawal of the Mamata faction's Nandigram candidate and the arrest and subsequent court proceedings involving Congress candidate Milan Pradhan.

Chowdhury's allegations are part of the ongoing political contest and have not been independently established as findings of fact. The coming weeks will be shaped by the bypoll campaign, court proceedings and continuing disputes over electoral and party organisation issues.