Suvendu Adhikari is an Indian politician who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of the two major national political parties in India.
Adhikari was born on 15 December 1970 in Contai, a city located in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. He comes from a political family, with his father, Sisir Adhikari, being a prominent politician from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), the ruling party in West Bengal from 2011 to 2021.
Adhikari started his political career in the Indian National Congress, a national political party in India, before joining the AITC in 2007. He became a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Nandigram constituency in 2009, and later served as the Minister for Transport, Irrigation and Water Resources Investigation and Development, and Sports and Youth Affairs in the West Bengal government.
In 2020, Adhikari resigned from the AITC and joined the BJP, which was in opposition in West Bengal. He contested the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections from the Nandigram constituency and defeated the incumbent Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, in a closely contested election.
Following his victory, Adhikari was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on 10 May 2021. As the Leader of the Opposition, he leads the BJP’s legislative efforts to hold the government accountable and represent the interests of the opposition in the state legislature.
Adhikari is known for his strong grassroots connect and political acumen. He has been credited with building the AITC’s support base in the Purba Medinipur district, which was once a stronghold of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He is also known for his ability to connect with the people, especially the rural population, and has been actively involved in various developmental works in his constituency.
Adhikari’s political career has been marked by controversies and his defection to the BJP was seen as a major blow to the AITC, which had relied on him for winning elections in the past. Despite this, he remains a prominent figure in West Bengal politics and is widely regarded as one of the most influential politicians in the state.
Suvendu Adhikari is an Indian politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who is currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. He assumed this position on 10 May 2021, after his party emerged as the second-largest in the state’s 2021 assembly elections.
Early Life and Education: Suvendu Adhikari was born on 15 December 1970 in Contai, a city located in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. His father, Sisir Adhikari, was a prominent politician from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) who represented the Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency. Suvendu Adhikari completed his schooling at the Contai Model Institution and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from the Vidyasagar University in Midnapore.
Political Career: Adhikari began his political career in the Indian National Congress before joining the AITC in 2007. In the 2009 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, he was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Nandigram constituency in Purba Medinipur district. During his tenure as an MLA, he served as the Minister for Transport, Irrigation and Water Resources Investigation and Development, and Sports and Youth Affairs in the West Bengal government.
In December 2020, Adhikari resigned from the AITC and joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. He contested the Nandigram constituency against the incumbent Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, and won by a narrow margin of 1,956 votes.
On 10 May 2021, Adhikari was appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, following the BJP’s strong performance in the state elections. In this role, he leads the BJP’s legislative efforts to hold the government accountable and represents the interests of the opposition in the state legislature.
Political Views and Controversies: Adhikari is known for his strong grassroots connect and political acumen. He has been credited with building the AITC’s support base in the Purba Medinipur district, which was once a stronghold of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He is also known for his ability to connect with the people, especially the rural population, and has been actively involved in various developmental works in his constituency.
Adhikari’s defection to the BJP was seen as a major blow to the AITC, which had relied on him for winning elections in the past. His decision to switch parties was reportedly due to differences with the AITC leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Adhikari has been involved in several controversies during his political career. In 2016, he was accused of financial irregularities in the purchase of fire tenders during his tenure as the Minister for Fire Services in the West Bengal government. In 2017, he was also accused of involvement in a corruption case related to the Narada sting operation, which exposed several Trinamool Congress leaders accepting bribes on camera.
Personal Life: Suvendu Adhikari is married to Nandini Adhikari, and the couple has two daughters. His brother, Dibyendu Adhikari, is a Member of Parliament from the Tamluk constituency in West Bengal.
Awards and Recognitions: Suvendu Adhikari has received several awards and recognitions for his contributions to politics and public service. In 2012, he was honored with the ‘Best MLA’ award by the West Bengal Assembly for his work in the areas of agriculture and rural development. In 2018, he was awarded the ‘Best Parliamentarian’ award by the East India Book of Records for his work as an MLA and minister in the West Bengal government.
Adhikari has also been recognized for his contribution to sports in West Bengal. As the Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, he played a key role in promoting sports and developing infrastructure in the state. He has also been associated with various sports organizations in West Bengal and has been actively involved in the development of football in the state.
Conclusion: Suvendu Adhikari is a prominent Indian politician who has made significant contributions to public service and politics in West Bengal. His strong grassroots connect and political acumen have earned him a loyal following among the people of his constituency. As the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, he represents the interests of the opposition and works towards holding the government accountable. Despite being involved in several controversies, he continues to be a popular political leader in West Bengal.
