Suvendu Adhikari Alleges Left, Trinamool Tried To Alter Bengal’s Religious And Political Identity

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday accused previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments of adopting what he described as a “step-motherly” approach towards Hindu religious traditions and rituals in the state. Speaking at the inauguration of a Ganesh Puja in Kestopur on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, Adhikari alleged that successive governments had contributed to what he called a sustained attack on Sanatani Hindu culture.

Targeting the Left Front’s 34-year rule, Adhikari criticised the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) over its approach towards religion. He said Communist governments had followed the belief that religion was the “opium” of the masses. Referring to CPI-M book stalls traditionally set up near Durga Puja pandals, he alleged that books by Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin were available, while works associated with Indian religious and spiritual traditions, including the Bhagavad Gita and Hanuman Chalisa, were not displayed.

Adhikari then turned his criticism towards the Trinamool Congress, which governed West Bengal from 2011 until 2026. He alleged that the previous government had made efforts to change the state’s cultural character and accused it of attempting to turn West Bengal into what he described as “Greater Bangladesh”. His remarks were part of a broader criticism of policies and decisions taken during the previous administration, particularly those relating to religious festivals and Hindu traditions.

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Without directly naming former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari referred to an incident involving restrictions on idol immersion during Vijaya Dashami in a year when Muharram coincided with the festival. He said the former chief minister had stated at a Puja coordination meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium that idol immersion would not take place on Vijaya Dashami because of Muharram. Adhikari presented the episode as an example of what he described as the previous government’s approach towards Hindu religious practices.

Adhikari also referred to his electoral contests against Mamata Banerjee, saying he had defeated her twice, first in Nandigram and later in Bhabanipur. In 2021, he defeated Banerjee in the Nandigram Assembly constituency in East Midnapore by a margin of less than 2,000 votes. In 2026, he defeated her again from the Bhabanipur constituency in south Kolkata, this time by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.

His remarks come as religious and cultural issues remain prominent in West Bengal’s political discourse. The Chief Minister used the Ganesh Puja event to contrast his government's position with those of previous administrations and to underline his emphasis on Hindu traditions and cultural practices. The allegations against the earlier governments, however, represent Adhikari’s political assessment of their record.

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