CM Suvendu Adhikari at Nandigram on Monday

CM Suvendu Adhikari at Nandigram on Monday

Kolkata/Nandigram: With an eye on the upcoming assembly bypoll in Nandigram, CM Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced projects worth Rs 300 crore for the constituency he recently vacated and launched a sharp political attack on his predecessor, Mamata Banerjee . The CM also announced a new bus stand in Nandigram to facilitate govt bus services, noting that 32 roads in the constituency have been newly constructed or repaired since his administration took office. Additionally, a new fire station was inaugurated at Haripur, and the bed capacity at Reyapara Block Primary Health Centre was expanded from 30 to 60. He also accused the previous govt of withholding jobs from the families of nine local martyrs following his 2021 victory.

He announced that the process of withdrawing thousands of cases registered against locals had begun. Adhikari also alleged that TMC govt failed to resolve cases involving participants in the historical Nandigram movement.

He urged voters to deliver a BJP victory margin even larger than the 1.09 lakh votes the party secured in the recent Falta bypoll in South 24 Parganas. Recalling his electoral history in the constituency, Adhikari said he won it in 2016 as a Trinamool candidate by over 81,000 votes, defeated Mamata Banerjee in 2021 by 1,956 votes and saw BJP’s victory margin grow to more than 9,500 votes in 2026.

Speaking at Reyapara during the inauguration of several projects under the panchayat and rural development department, Adhikari said Nandigram would remain top priority on the state’s development agenda. If Nandigram is doing well, I will be doing well,” Adhikari said. “Nandigram must remain number one in terms of priority. He alleged that Nandigram was systematically deprived of development during the final five years of the previous TMC administration as retribution for Banerjee’s defeat.

On healthcare coverage, Adhikari said Ayushman Bharat cards were being issued to 2.5 lakh residents, while another 87,000 people previously excluded by procedural hurdles were being enrolled in the state’s Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.

He criticised TMC govt’s health coverage for being reliant on “fake” Swasthya Sathi cards.