Kolkata, 15 May (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday extended a conciliatory message to opposition legislators, particularly members of the Trinamool Congress, assuring them that his government would function on the principles of dialogue, accountability and democratic cooperation.

Speaking in the Assembly after the election of the new Speaker, Adhikari said the House would function with the spirit that “the House belongs to the Opposition.” He stressed that despite the BJP’s numerical strength in the Assembly, the government wanted to ensure equal space for opposition voices.

“You may be fewer in number, but we do not want to move away from a 50-50 spirit inside the House. Even though we have a majority, we would like the Speaker to allow the Opposition more opportunities to speak,” the Chief Minister said.

Adhikari also invited opposition legislators to directly approach ministers with public grievances and administrative concerns. “If your party permits, you may meet ministers. We will also ask ministers to make time for such meetings. If necessary, you may send letters as well,” he said.

In an apparent criticism of the previous administration led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari remarked that opposition letters often went unanswered earlier. “There was hardly any expectation of receiving replies from the previous Chief Minister. But under our government, every letter will receive a response. There will not only be an acknowledgement, but also efforts toward positive solutions,” he stated.

The Chief Minister further said the new government in West Bengal would function in line with the governance model followed in BJP-ruled states under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Emphasising the need to preserve democratic traditions in the Assembly, Adhikari said, “We do not want the Leader of the Opposition to remain suspended from the Assembly for eleven months. We do not want any MLA to face physical harassment. Decorum in language and conduct must be maintained.”

He added that his government believed in constructive opposition and constitutional values. “We want to work while keeping the Constitution supreme. Representation of all sides in the Assembly is important. The Speaker will conduct proceedings in consultation with the government, and we will abide by his directions,” he said.

Notably, Adhikari himself had faced disciplinary action on multiple occasions when he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh