West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced that he will retain the Bhabanipur Assembly seat and give up the Nandigram constituency after securing victory from both seats in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
The BJP leader officially took oath as the MLA from Bhabanipur and confirmed that he cannot continue representing two constituencies at the same time. His decision has now paved the way for a bypoll in Nandigram, one of Bengal’s most politically significant seats.
“I cannot take oath as an MLA from two Assembly constituencies. I have taken oath as the MLA from Bhabanipur. I will have to leave the Nandigram Assembly constituency,” Adhikari told reporters after the Assembly proceedings.
The announcement quickly triggered reactions across political circles, especially because Nandigram has remained at the centre of Bengal politics for several years. Adhikari’s victory from the constituency once again strengthened his political influence in the state, while Bhabanipur remains equally symbolic due to its political prominence.
Despite stepping down from Nandigram, Adhikari assured residents that he would continue working for the constituency and ensure that development promises made during the election campaign are fulfilled.
“I will not let the people there feel my absence during the next five years,” the chief minister said. He further promised to continue focusing on infrastructure, welfare projects, and development work in Nandigram alongside the rest of West Bengal.
The move comes at a time when BJP is looking to consolidate its position in Bengal after a fiercely contested Assembly election. Political observers believe the upcoming Nandigram bypoll could now become another major political battle in the state.
Interestingly, a similar situation recently unfolded in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay won from two constituencies during the Assembly elections before resigning from one seat as required under election rules.
Adhikari’s decision to retain Bhabanipur is being viewed as a strategic political move, as the constituency is expected to play a crucial role in the BJP government’s future plans in West Bengal.
With the oath-taking completed and the seat decision finalised, all eyes are now on who the BJP may field from Nandigram in the upcoming by-election and how opposition parties respond to the changing political landscape in the state.
