Riju Dutta, a suspended spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress (TMC), praised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for preventing large-scale post-poll violence.
The comments signal a rare public endorsement of a political opponent by a former party insider, highlighting the volatile nature of political stability in West Bengal.
Dutta said that Adhikari's decision to exercise restraint averted potential mass retaliation that could have devastated the TMC. According to Dutta, the Chief Minister saved the lives of at least 5,000 TMC workers [1].
The praise follows a specific violent incident involving an aide of Dutta. On May 6, 2024, the personal assistant of Chandranath Rath, a close aide to Dutta, was shot [2].
Dutta said that if Adhikari had called for revenge in Bengal that night, 5,000 TMC workers would have been killed [1]. He said Adhikari's decision not to incite retaliation was the primary reason for the lack of further bloodshed.
The suspended spokesperson's remarks focus on the prevention of a cycle of violence that often follows electoral tension in the region. By acknowledging the restraint of the Chief Minister, Dutta underscored the fragility of peace in the state's political landscape.
“"Suvendu Adhikari has saved the lives of at least 5,000 Trinamool Congress workers."”
This development reflects the deep polarization of West Bengal politics, where the actions of a single high-ranking leader can either escalate or mitigate systemic violence. Dutta's admission suggests that the threat of organized retaliation is a persistent risk in the region's post-election environment.
