War of Words Escalates Ahead of Polls as Subhendu Adhikari Faces Renewed Allegations
Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews | Kolkata | August 23, 2025 :
The political temperature in West Bengal surged yet again following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fiery speech from Dum Dum, where he launched a scathing attack on jailed Trinamool Congress ministers Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick over corruption. Within hours, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) struck back—general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, along with senior leader Dr. Shashi Panja, hit back at the BJP by publicly resurfacing the Narada sting video implicating opposition leader Subhendu Adhikari, a former TMC heavyweight now with the BJP.In his speech earlier in the day, the Prime Minister targeted the controversial ‘Ministry Abolition’ Bill, using it as a platform to highlight alleged corruption among TMC leaders. Without naming them directly, Modi pointed to Partha Chatterjee, arrested in the teacher recruitment scam, and Jyotipriya Mallick, implicated in the ration distribution corruption case. “They did not step down even after being arrested,” he said, accusing the TMC leadership of having no regard for public accountability and adding that “the public is being cheated.”
He further issued a stern warning, stating, “Insult to the Constitution will not be tolerated,” reinforcing his party’s anti-corruption narrative ahead of the upcoming elections.
The TMC’s counteroffensive was swift and calculated. From the party headquarters at Trinamool Bhavan, Kunal Ghosh blasted the Prime Minister’s remarks, stating, “Narendra Modi is throwing stones while sitting in a glass house. The people he shares the stage with also face serious corruption allegations.” Ghosh then played a video clip from the Narada sting operation, which had previously shown several political figures, including Subhendu Adhikari, allegedly accepting bribes on camera.
Dr. Shashi Panja, standing alongside Ghosh, reinforced the party’s stance by questioning the BJP’s moral authority: “If the Prime Minister wants to talk about corruption, he should first address the presence of those with tainted records within his own party.”
The Narada sting, though years old, remains a politically potent symbol in Bengal’s high-stakes electoral landscape. While Subhendu Adhikari has denied any wrongdoing, the footage continues to be a thorn in the BJP’s side—especially when used strategically by the TMC to blunt anti-corruption criticisms.
Today’s exchange marks yet another chapter in the intensifying political rivalry between Bengal’s ruling party and the BJP, which continues to sharpen its focus on the state ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. With both parties trading charges of corruption, the narrative on governance, accountability, and ethics is likely to remain at the forefront of public debate in the coming months.
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