Kolkata: Senior political figure Suvendu Adhikari stated on Friday that West Bengal has transformed into a dependent region following nearly five decades of governance under the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress, arguing the state must instead pursue self-reliance guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During an address in Kolkata, he emphasized that the state ought to advance along a developmental track aimed at mirroring Gujarat within the span of five years.
Speaking at an exhibition organized for the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan at the Indian Museum, Adhikari drew upon impressions from a recent journey to Gujarat, characterizing that state as resembling a meticulously crafted picture and a fairy-tale landscape. He noted that ongoing efforts are concentrated on shifting West Bengal away from dependence under national leadership, setting a target to achieve at least half of Gujarat's developmental standards during the upcoming five-year period.
Highlighting recent political developments, Adhikari pointed to the BJP's successes in the assembly bypolls for Rejinagar and Nandigram, asserting that voters in those areas dismantled a barrier of communal division. He claimed that public trust in the Prime Minister's development framework and governance was demonstrated across polling booths, contending that nationalist voters overcame divisive politics centered on language and background.
Reflecting on his travels to Vadnagar in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, the hometown of Prime Minister Modi, Adhikari described participation in the concluding events of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan there as a major milestone. He commended the execution of the campaign within West Bengal and credited national leadership with elevating India to the position of the world's fourth-largest economy, with expectations of reaching third place soon alongside a shift toward defense exports.
Adhikari explained that the exhibition commemorated twenty-five years of Narendra Modi's tenure spanning his time as Gujarat chief minister and Prime Minister, noting that campaign phases have unfolded across various regions since September 17. He outlined upcoming initiatives including a Youth Innovation program following the Durga Puja holidays and highlighted widespread participation in welfare and outreach efforts across the state.