Kolkata, Oct 28 (PTI) BJP’s Hasirani Rath and Sakharov Sarkar, who won the recent Nandigram and Rejinagar bypolls, took oath as MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday.
Speaker Rathindra Nath Bose administered the oath of office to the two newly elected legislators.
Rath won the Nandigram seat in Purba Medinipur district, considered Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s stronghold, after he vacated it following his victories in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 assembly polls.
Sarkar won the Rejinagar seat in Murshidabad district after Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir vacated it following his victories in both Rejinagar and Nowda, necessitating a bypoll.
Adhikari, who was present at the assembly during the swearing-in event, asserted that oath-taking ceremonies and assembly sessions are now live-streamed, unlike in the past when the TMC was in power.
Taking a swipe at the opposition candidates in the two bypolls, he said, “Those who were in power for 15 years withdrew their nomination in Nandigram, while another candidate in Rejinagar withdrew his declaration midway and forfeited his deposit.”
Targeting TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari said, “I had trounced her in Bhabanipur in south Kolkata. I would request her to refrain from contesting any more elections. You have already crossed 75 years of age. There is no need to join the electoral fray; take rest at home.”
“I told the people of Nandigram that we would fulfil their wishes. Rath won by 1.22 lakh votes. They had asked me not to contest from Bhabanipur, but I stand with them. I assure them that they will get all the benefits,” he said.
Adhikari also claimed that the TMC had ceased to exist.
Pointing out that no untoward incident had occurred during the bypolls this year, he thanked the people of Rejinagar for voting for the BJP and claimed that minority voters had also supported the party.
“The BJP is not anti-Muslim. We are Sanatani Hindus, but we look after everyone’s needs on a priority basis,” he said.
Referring to the CBI probe into the killing of his aide Chandranath Rath, son of Hasirani Rath, Adhikari said seven people had been arrested in the case.
Responding to Leader of the Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee’s allegations that an attempt had been made to take away documents belonging to opposition members, Adhikari said he would ask the LoP to lodge an FIR and that the allegations would be investigated by the CID.
Expressing grief over the death of 19 people in the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal stampede, Adhikari said a probe team headed by a retired judge would submit its report within three months.
“I will share the findings with you. We won’t spare those responsible,” he said. PTI SUS MNB
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