In a notable shift in tone during his campaign for the October 6 Assembly bypoll in Nandigram, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari extended a “hand of friendship” to minority voters, urging them to unite with the BJP and reject the notion of turning their backs on the party. Addressing a series of public meetings in a constituency where Muslims make up roughly a quarter of the electorate, Adhikari pivoted from his earlier hardline stance—which had framed the election as a “test” of loyalty—to a conciliatory pitch centered on inclusive development and mutual cooperation. Emphasizing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance reaches all citizens, he assured minority communities of comprehensive welfare benefits, improved healthcare, enhanced infrastructure projects including a new bridge over the Haldi river, and better economic prospects without pressuring anyone on ideological slogans. Adhikari also clarified his decision to vacate Nandigram after the 2026 Assembly elections while retaining Bhabanipur, explaining that it was a strategic move to prevent a defeated Mamata Banerjee from securing a foothold there. Launching a sharp critique of the Trinamool Congress, he claimed the party has lost its political identity, and urged voters to secure a resounding victory for BJP candidate Hasi Rani Rath.
