Plea In Calcutta High Court Seeks Action Against Suvendu Adhikari Over Allegedly Inflammatory Speech At Bhawanipore Rally

A plea has been moved before the Calcutta High Court, seeking action against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari over alleged inflammatory and unconstitutional remarks made during a public rally in Kolkata, with the petitioner contending that such statements undermine secularism and threaten communal harmony.

The petitioner, Soumo Mondal, seeks a direction on the Election Commission of India to cancel Adhikari's candidature from the Bhawanipore constituency, which he is contesting against CM Mamata Banerjee.

According to the petition, Adhikari, who presently holds a high constitutional office as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, delivered a speech on March 3, 2026, at a political rally near Bhawanipore, Kolkata, where he allegedly raised slogans such as “Down with secularism, down with atheism,” before a large gathering. The plea asserts that statements made by a constitutional functionary carry significant weight and have the potential to impact public order, constitutional governance, and the unity and integrity of the country.

The petitioner has further pointed to another remark attributed to Adhikari during the same speech, wherein he allegedly stated that he is “an MLA of Hindus” and that “Hindus made me an MLA.” It is argued that such statements are divisive in nature and violate the constitutional ethos of secularism, particularly when made by a person holding public office.

The plea states that a representation was submitted to the concerned authorities on April 7, 2026, along with purported video evidence available in the public domain. However, despite this, no action has been taken by the authorities, including with regard to revocation of candidature or initiation of proceedings in accordance with law. The inaction, the petitioner claims, warrants judicial intervention.