Riju Dutta, a suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari saved the lives of at least 5,000 TMC workers [1].

The statement follows a period of intense political transition in West Bengal. Dutta's comments suggest that the new administration's restraint in the face of violence could prevent a wider cycle of political retribution in the state.

Dutta, who previously served as a party spokesperson, made the remarks Sunday, May 10, 2026 [2]. He said that Suvendu Adhikari had been the Chief Minister for only two days at the time of the statement [3].

The praise stems from Adhikari's reaction to an attack on his staff. The Chief Minister's personal assistant was shot May 6, 2026 [2]. Dutta said that if Adhikari had called for revenge in Bengal that night, 5,000 TMC workers would have been killed [2].

“Suvendu Adhikari has saved the lives of at least 5,000 Trinamool Congress workers,” Dutta said [1].

Dutta said that within two days of taking office, Adhikari prevented the loss of thousands of lives [3]. The suspended leader's decision to praise the new Chief Minister marks a significant departure from his previous role within the TMC.

According to the report, the decision not to incite retaliation was the primary factor in avoiding the alleged massacre [1]. This restraint occurred during the critical first 48 hours of Adhikari's tenure as the head of the West Bengal government [3].

““Suvendu Adhikari has saved the lives of at least 5,000 Trinamool Congress workers.””

The comments by Riju Dutta reflect the volatile nature of West Bengal's political landscape, where the shift in power can lead to immediate threats of retaliatory violence. By claiming that 5,000 lives were at risk, Dutta underscores the perceived power of the Chief Minister to either incite or quell street-level conflict. This public endorsement from a former TMC insider may signal a broader shift in loyalty or a strategic effort to stabilize the state following the change in leadership.