"Hold procession every day, but...": CM Suvendu guarantees no obstriction to opposition rallies

In his maiden speech as Chief Minister in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari delivered a powerful message to the opposition while taking sharp digs at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Adhikari assured the House that his administration would not obstruct any democratic programs or rallies organized by the opposition. Reflecting on his own time as the Leader of the Opposition during the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime, he reminded the assembly of the constant political blockades, suspension orders, and legal hurdles he had to personally navigate just to hold public meetings.

The Chief Minister revealed that the state police had granted permission for Mamata Banerjee’s recent hawker-eviction protest, adjusting the venue from Rani Rashmoni Sarani to the Y-Channel in Dharmatala based on administrative guidelines. Adhikari mockingly welcomed the TMC leadership to hold processions every single day, confidently adding that despite their street agitations, they would not be able to regain political power in the state. He emphasized that unlike the previous government, which slapped 102 legal cases against him and suspended him five times over a five-year period, his government believes in democratic tolerance.

Adhikari also highlighted a major shift in governance by stating that the current administration actively invites opposition members to all official state administrative meetings. He heavily criticized the previous TMC government for widespread institutional corruption, specifically pointing out financial discrepancies worth crores of rupees connected to the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) initiatives. The Chief Minister noted that while the former administration sought to silence dissent, his focus remains on executing extensive developmental work across the state.