Synopsis: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accuses TMC of Tribal Atrocities in Bengal, showing videos and images to corner the ruling party as both sides trade charges ahead of the 2026 polls.
By Qalam Times News Network | Kolkata, August 27, 2025
Suvendu Adhikari Flags Tribal Atrocities in Bengal
The political heat in Bengal has intensified as BJP’s Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of repeated Tribal Atrocities. Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters on Tuesday, Suvendu showcased videos and testimonies alleging oppression of tribal communities in West Midnapore and Purulia districts. These regions, once BJP strongholds during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, have since slipped away in the 2021 assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
TMC Meeting Photos Surface
Adding fuel to the controversy, Suvendu also displayed photos of TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee in a meeting with arrested TMC MLA Jiban Krishna Saha and other leaders. Suvendu alleged that Saha was a conduit for siphoning money to Banerjee. “Jiban raised funds which went directly to the nephew,” Suvendu said. The BJP leader framed this as part of a larger web of corruption while linking it back to tribal neglect and exploitation.
Recent Incidents Highlighted
Citing specific events, Suvendu referred to the August 14 case in Bandwan, Purulia, where a tribal woman was allegedly molested by a hospital staffer, and the August 15 assault on referee Lakhan Mandi during a football match in West Midnapore by a local TMC leader. He also blamed state excise officials for the death of a young tribal man, Dr. Soren, in Debra on August 18, and linked multiple such cases to what he termed a systemic pattern of Tribal Atrocities under TMC rule.
TMC Hits Back
The TMC quickly dismissed Suvendu’s allegations, calling them an electoral strategy to win back tribal votes ahead of 2026. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh argued that life in Junglemahal had improved significantly since TMC came to power. “Women in Junglemahal now play football under Kanyashree Cup. People know who truly respects and uplifts the tribals,” Ghosh said. He also reminded that Suvendu himself once made derogatory remarks against tribal leaders.
Politics of Accusation
While Suvendu attempted to paint the TMC as anti-tribal, the ruling party retaliated by resurfacing Narada sting videos and sharing photos of Suvendu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their message: BJP has little moral ground to speak on corruption. With the tribal vote playing a decisive role in Junglemahal and Rarh Bengal, both parties appear to be sharpening their narratives ahead of a crucial 2026 assembly election.
