In one of the most dramatic turns in West Bengal politics, Suvendu Adhikari once caught in the crossfire of the Narada sting controversy and attacked relentlessly by the Bharatiya Janata Party has now risen to become the Chief Minister of Bengal under the BJP banner.
The development marks a remarkable political transformation in a state where shifting loyalties and ideological battles have repeatedly redrawn the political map. For many observers, Adhikari’s elevation as the face of Bengal’s first BJP government reflects not only his personal political survival but also the BJP’s changing political calculations in the state.
The Narada sting operation, carried out before the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, had shaken the state’s political establishment. Videos released by Narada News appeared to show several Trinamool Congress leaders allegedly accepting cash from individuals posing as representatives of a fictitious company in exchange for favours.
At the time, Suvendu Adhikari was a senior leader in the ruling Trinamool Congress and a close aide of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP, then attempting to expand its footprint in Bengal, used the sting operation aggressively to target the Trinamool leadership. BJP leaders repeatedly cited the Narada case during election campaigns, accusing the state government of corruption and demanding accountability.
The controversy became a major political weapon for the BJP as it tried to position itself as the principal opposition force against the Trinamool Congress. Protest marches, press conferences and campaign speeches frequently referenced the Narada tapes. Several BJP leaders had then accused the Trinamool leadership of betraying public trust.
Ironically, one of the most prominent faces seen in the sting videos would later become a key architect of the BJP’s rise in Bengal.
Adhikari’s political shift began taking shape in 2020 amid growing tensions within the Trinamool Congress. Once regarded as one of the party’s most influential mass leaders, particularly in East Midnapore, he reportedly became increasingly uncomfortable with the party leadership and internal power dynamics.
In December 2020, he formally joined the BJP in the presence of senior national leaders. His switch was seen as a massive blow to the Trinamool Congress because of his organisational strength and influence across several districts in Bengal.
Soon after joining the BJP, Adhikari emerged as one of the saffron party’s strongest faces in Bengal. The same party that had once attacked him over the Narada controversy now projected him as a symbol of resistance against the Trinamool government.
Political analysts viewed the BJP’s acceptance of Adhikari as a pragmatic move aimed at strengthening its grassroots network in Bengal. His ability to mobilise cadres and influence rural voters made him a valuable political asset at a time when the BJP was attempting to challenge Mamata Banerjee’s dominance.
The political rivalry reached its peak during the 2021 Assembly elections when Adhikari contested directly against Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram, the constituency that had once become the epicentre of Bengal’s anti-land acquisition movement. In a fiercely fought battle, Adhikari defeated Banerjee by a narrow margin, cementing his status as one of Bengal’s most powerful opposition leaders.
Over the next few years, he continued to strengthen his position within the BJP’s state unit. Despite criticism from opposition parties over the BJP embracing leaders it had once accused of corruption, the party leadership consistently defended Adhikari and highlighted his role in expanding the organisation in Bengal.
Now, with the BJP forming its first government in the state and Adhikari taking oath as Chief Minister, the political circle appears complete.
Opposition leaders have already pointed to the irony of the situation, recalling the BJP’s earlier attacks during the Narada controversy. The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of political hypocrisy, alleging that corruption charges become irrelevant once leaders switch sides.
The BJP, however, maintains that Adhikari represents a new political chapter for Bengal and credits him for helping the party emerge as a serious force in the state.
For Bengal politics, the rise of Suvendu Adhikari from a Trinamool strongman embroiled in a controversial sting operation to the Chief Minister leading a BJP government underscores the fluid and often unpredictable nature of Indian politics where yesterday’s adversary can become today’s most important ally.
Also read https://ahlesubah.com/suvendu-adhikari-sworn-in-west-bengal-cm-bjp-government/
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