Best CM Bengal can have: Mithun Chakraborty praises Suvendu

Kolkata, Senior BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty hailed Suvendu Adhikari as the "best chief minister West Bengal can have", as the latter called on the actor-turned-politician at his residence on Saturday.

Adhikari visited Chakraborty's residence in New Town, adjacent to Kolkata, and held discussions for nearly an hour before beginning his first tour to the districts, with politically significant Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas being the first destination.

After the meeting, Chakraborty described Adhikari as "the best chief minister West Bengal can have" and said he was confident the BJP leader would bring "real changes" in the state in the coming days.


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"I can guarantee the people that there can be no better CM than him. He is the best. He has already begun working from day one after taking the oath," Chakraborty told reporters following the meeting.

Union minister Sukanta Majumdar also resides in the same residential complex where Chakraborty lives in New Town.

BJP leaders described the meeting as a "courtesy visit" and a gesture of gratitude towards Chakraborty for his role during the recent election campaign.

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Speaking after the meeting, Adhikari said Chakraborty had been working "day and night" for the last five-six years for the party and played a key role in bringing about the political change in the state.

"He is a senior to me. I came to seek his blessings. We discussed the work that needs to be done. However, we cannot share the details of the roadmap we discussed," Adhikari said.

The chief minister described Chakraborty as one of the BJP's key well-wishers who does not want any post and "put in his everything" during the election campaign by holding a large number of rallies and internal meetings across the state.

Party leaders said Chakraborty had campaigned extensively across north and south Bengal despite health issues and continued canvassing even after suffering physical strain during hectic election schedules.

After the meeting, Adhikari left for South 24 Parganas to begin his district tour, where he is expected to hold an administrative meeting, a move seen as politically significant amid the BJP's attempt to strengthen its organisational base in the region ahead of the election in the Falta assembly seat.

Adhikari's visit to Diamond Harbour assumes significance as the parliamentary constituency is represented by Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, while the Falta assembly seat, where the election is scheduled on May 21, falls within the constituency.

The Election Commission countermanded the election in Falta, which was held on April 29, following massive irregularities, including allegations of EVM tampering and voter intimidation.