West Bengal: 'Assembly elections should be held next year under President's rule', statement of Shubhendu Adhikari

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Shubhendu Adhikari has demanded that next year's Bengal assembly elections be held under President's rule. He alleged that law and order completely collapsed during the violence in Murshidabad district. Adhikari said that the unrest in Murshidabad, Suti, Dhuliyan, Jangipur, and Shamsherganj is the failure of the state government that it could not protect the common citizens and could not maintain peace.

'Police is working like a cadre of the ruling party'

The BJP leader claimed that when the frenzied mob was vandalizing and causing destruction, the ruling party was watching everything as a mute spectator. Speaking to the media, Shubhendu Adhikari said that 'whenever Hindus have been in minority, they have been prevented from voting. The police work like a cadre of the ruling party. For free and transparent elections, next year's assembly elections should be held under President's rule.'

'Jihadi elements behind the violence'

The Leader of the Opposition in Bengal said that 'Jihadi elements are behind the recent violence. These people have been allowed to move freely. We are ready to face them, but there should be a fair fight. The Election Commission should seriously consider holding assembly elections under President's rule next year.' It is worth noting that the protests in Bengal against the Waqf Act have turned violent, due to which three people have died and many others have been injured. Hundreds of people have migrated from Murshidabad to Malda. Where they are living in camps.

On the allegations of Shubhendu Adhikari, TMC leader Firhad Hakim said that 'People are staying in Bengal, not fleeing the state. The administration is taking care of everyone and efforts are being made to normalize the situation. The violence is unfortunate, but the police are trying to identify the culprits.'

Demand to investigate Murshidabad violence by SIT

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court demanding a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the violence that broke out during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Murshidabad, West Bengal. This petition has been filed by lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha. It also urged the Supreme Court to seek answers from the West Bengal government and the Union Home Ministry for the failure of law and order.