Suvendu targets CPI(M) over CM Mamata photo in Ganashakti; Party says: "It’s an advertisement, not news"

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari raised questions over the appearance of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s photo in an advertisement published on the front page of CPI(M)'s mouthpiece Ganashakti. The advertisement, issued by a private educational institute, mentioned that Mamata Banerjee would inaugurate a new Medical Science and Research Centre set up by the organization.

Suvendu Adhikari shared the front page image on social media and questioned whether ties between the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress were strengthening. He wrote, “Our workers were killed during the panchayat elections, yet the sickle-hammer-star is now enamoured with the grass-flower.” He also posted a separate image showing CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya and Trinamool MP Saugata Roy standing together during a protest in Delhi related to Manipur violence.

Reacting to Adhikari’s remarks, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty clarified that the advertisement was completely funded by a private institution and had no connection with party policies. He stated, “Ganashakti is an independent publication and does not accept advertisements from the Trinamool government. It did not do so even when Suvendu himself was a minister.” He further explained, “There is a difference between advertisements and news. This advertisement was paid for, and hence space was given.”

Chakraborty pointed out that in the past, advertisements issued by the central government containing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image had also been published in Ganashakti. He added, “Suvendu Adhikari perhaps does not understand the difference between advertisement and editorial content. If an advertisement is not against social norms, we have no bias in publishing it.”

He also clarified that if the state government issues an advertisement that follows all advertisement guidelines and includes the Chief Minister’s photograph, it would also be published. The CPI(M) maintained that the presence of Mamata Banerjee’s image was related solely to the private ad and not an indication of political alignment or endorsement.