Stories of leaders: Will Suvendu remain a challenger or will he play with Mamta? What is the story of political enmity with Guru?

There is also a chapter in the politics of West Bengal, where the guru-disciple relationship turned into political enmity. Yes, I am telling you what you are understanding. In fact, Suvendra Adhikari, who was the confidant of Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and the hero and important ally of Nandigram, was once considered her strength, but with time this relationship turned into conflict. The partnership that started from the streets of Nandigram reached the corridors of power, but the growing distance inside broke it. Accusations and counter-accusations, taunts of betrayal and open challenges – everything became a part of this relationship. The rise of Abhishek Banerjee in TMC proved to be like adding fuel to the fire in this controversy. This conflict reached its peak in the 2021 elections, when both stood face to face. This was not just an election, but a fight for respect, power and political supremacy, which showed the entire country turning friendship into enmity.

Although there is no mention of Suvendu Adhikari’s political style in any particular book, but in the part of senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s book ‘The Paradoxical Prime Minister’ which mentions major changes in Indian politics, movements like Nandigram are mentioned in the context of political developments in West Bengal and the role of regional leaders. In the same section, the role of leaders like Suvendu Adhikari is discussed. However, Tharoor’s book does not focus on him.

1. Who is Suvendu Adhikari and how was his political identity formed?

Suvendu Adhikari (Suvendu Adhikari) is counted among those leaders of Indian politics, who made their mark through grassroots struggle and later became a big name in the power politics of the state. Born in Kanthi in East Medinipur district of West Bengal, Suvendu comes from a political family. His father Sisirkumar Adhikari was already an active and influential leader. Since childhood, he observed politics closely, which developed the understanding of leadership and organization within him.

He started his political journey through student politics during his college days. Initially he was associated with Congress, but when TMC was formed in 1998, he chose to join the new party under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. It was from here that he started being recognized as a young leader who knows how to build an organization from the ground up. Gradually, he established a strong hold in the rural areas and created an image among the people as a “working leader”, which further increased his political stature rapidly.

2. Why is his role considered important in the Nandigram movement?

This is from 2007. Tata’s Nano project started in Singur. TMC launched a movement in Nandigram against the acquisition of farmers’ land and against the Singur land acquisition. Nandigram Movement proved to be the biggest turning point in Suvendu’s political life. At that time, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Left Front government in the state wanted to acquire land for an industrial project in Nandigram, which was strongly opposed by the local farmers. Suvendu Adhikari’s role was very important in giving an organized form to this protest and taking it to every village.

He not only united the people but also transformed the movement into a strong mass movement. During this period, incidents of violence and police firing also took place, which drew the attention of the entire country towards this issue. The Nandigram movement changed the direction of West Bengal politics and weakened the hold of the Left government. Mamata Banerjee took this movement forward at the political level, but at the grassroots level its backbone was Suvendu Adhikari. This was the moment when he became established from a local leader to a state level leader.

3. How did Suvendu Adhikari rise in TMC?

After the Nandigram movement, Suvendu Adhikari’s stature grew rapidly. He became one of the most trusted leaders of TMC. In 2009, he became an MP by winning the Lok Sabha elections, which further strengthened his political reach and influence. In 2011, when TMC under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee won a historic victory and formed the government in West Bengal, Suvendu was made a minister.

4. Why was Medinipur called ‘Adhikari Garh’?

He created a strong organization in his area East Medinipur, where his influence increased so much that the area came to be called “Adhikari Garh”. His image was of a leader who lives among the people, understands the problems and is active in solving them. This was the reason why he emerged as a strong and independent power center even within the party. However, this power later became the cause of distance between him and the party leadership.

5. Why did he clash with Mamata Banerjee?

With time, the balance of power within Trinamool Congress started changing and after Mamata Banerjee, the influence of Abhishek Banerjee started increasing. Party decisions started being taken among a limited number of people, due to which Suvendu Adhikari started feeling that his role and importance was being reduced. Gradually this dissatisfaction started coming out openly and his relations with Mamata Banerjee turned sour. This conflict became not only political but also personal, because Suvendu considered himself an important face of the movement that brought TMC to power. Finally in 2020 he left TMC and joined BJP. This decision brought a big change in the politics of West Bengal, because it was a direct challenge against Mamata Banerjee. This move divided the politics of the state into two poles and made the upcoming elections even more interesting.

6. Why is the 2021 Nandigram election so special?

Bengal Assembly Elections 2021 has become one of the most talked about contests of Indian politics. Especially because of the contest on Nandigram seat. Here Suvendra Adhikari and Mamata Banerjee were face to face. This is the game of politics. While Mamta taught Suvendu to walk holding her finger, Suvendra became so strong in the politics of Bengal that his fight with Mamta became a question of personal prestige rather than the relationship of guru and disciple.

7. Why did Mamta call Suvendu a traitor?

During the election campaign, allegations and counter-allegations, rallies and emotional appeals were at their peak. Mamata Banerjee called Suvendu a “traitor”, while Suvendu accused Mamata of deviating from her core principles. Nandigram was no longer just an assembly seat, but it had become the center of politics of the entire state. Every eye was on this match, because it was to be decided whether a disciple could challenge his guru and defeat him. This was also considered to be the reason behind the TMC chief calling him a traitor.

8. How did Suvendu Adhikari become the “Giant Killer”?

When the 2021 election results came, TMC won big across West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister once again. But the story was different in Nandigram. Here Suvendu Adhikari created history by defeating Mamata Banerjee. This victory was special because he defeated a sitting Chief Minister in the election, which is rarely seen in Indian politics. For this reason he came to be called “Giant Killer”. However, Mamata Banerjee later returned to the Assembly by winning the by-election from Bhawanipur seat, but the Nandigram defeat was a big symbolic blow for her. This victory established Suvendu as a strong opposition face in state politics and also gave him recognition at the national level.

9. What is the political future of Suvendu?

Suvendu Adhikari is the Leader of Opposition in the Bengal Assembly and is considered one of the biggest faces of BJP. His grassroots hold, aggressive political style and strategic thinking make him one of Mamata Banerjee’s biggest challengers. They continuously corner the state government on various issues and are busy strengthening their organization.

Although BJP has not yet been able to capture power in the state, Suvendu’s presence has given the party a strong base. Their role may become even more important in the coming elections, especially if they succeed in expanding their influence further. His political journey shows that struggle, strategy and decisions taken at the right time can take any leader to new heights.

It will be interesting to see in the future whether he reaches power in West Bengal or maintains his identity as a strong opposition leader, but it is certain that his story is not over yet.