Suvendu challenges Abhishek to contest from Diamond Harbour in 2029 Lok Sabha polls

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File | Photo Credit: ANI The war of words between Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari escalated on Friday (October 30, 2026) with the Chief Minister throwing a challenge to the Trinamool leader to contest from Diamond Harbour.“Yesterday, he was saying that you would come back after two years. Bhaipo Babu [mister nephew] it is not even six months [since BJP came to power]. I am throwing an open challenge to you. Contest the Lok Sabha elections from Diamond Harbour. I will defeat you by at least one vote more than the margin by which you won... Mr. Adhikari said addressing a public meeting at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas.The Chief Minister said that he will defeat the Trinamool Congress leader from Diamond Harbour by a larger margin than he was elected in 2024. Abhishek Banerjee had won the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat by a margin of over 7.10 lakh votes. Mr. Adhikari claimed that none of the elections in South 24 Parganas district, where Diamond Harbour is located, after 2014 were free and fair.The strong reaction from the Chief Minister came in response to a statement made by the Diamond Harbour MP on Thursday where he alleged political vendetta and cautioned a section of police officers not to target him at the behest of the Chief Minister. “I am keeping a list of names. None will be spared once the government changes,” he said. Mr. Banerjee said that there have been 30 cases against him and dared the police to file 50 more.“They have been trying for six to seven years with the help of central investigation agency. They are thinking of keeping me in jail and confiscating me. My assistant has been kept in custody for almost two and a half months on a false case. But I cannot be silenced,” the Trinamool leader said.The very next day, on Friday (October 30, 2026), the Chief Minister, without naming any political adversary, said, “The big question is when will the big thief go to jail? Everything has to be done on time. I have always been patient in public life”. Earlier in the day, Mr. Adhikari said,” He [Abhishek Banerjee] must be suffering from sodium-potassium imbalance. Let him go to New York [for treatment]”.Responding to the charges of the Chief Minister, Mr. Banerjee said that Mr. Adhikari was only thinking about him. The Trinamool Congress leader alleged that the Chief Minister's " bhaipho [nephew] " was associated with Chorbagan Durga Puja committee and he should be arrested.Suvendu Adhikari and Abhishek Banerjee had been political rivals for more than a decade when both of them were young Trinamool leaders. Mamata Banerjee favouring her nephew Abhishek Banerjee over Suvendu Adhikari is widely considered the reason why Mr. Adhikari left the Trinamool Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in December 2020.During his address at Baruipur, Mr. Adhikari challenged Mamata Banerjee to contest against him for the third time. The Chief Minister said that he will defeat Ms. Banerjee for the third time and suggested her to shift base to Delhi from Kolkata.“You should go to Delhi. There is nothing left for you in West Bengal. You are now going to Delhi instead of staying in Kolkata. You are trying to find a political foothold there by hobnobbing with the Congress and the CPI(M). She is now bowing at the feet of Congress to have political significance,” he said.A few days ago, Mr. Adhikari had suggested to the former Chief Minister to take rest and stay away from active politics. Published - October 31, 2026 12:56 am IST