KOLKATA: BJP president Nitin Nabin on Monday called for a ‘Rahul-free’ Delhi, drawing a parallel with West Bengal, which, he said, was now free from Mamata Banerjee.
Stepping up his attacks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Nabin, while addressing the ‘Save Democracy, End Anarchy’ programme organised by the state BJP unit at Esplanade, said, “Mamata, after suffering a crushing defeat in Bengal, is now crying in Delhi. Bengal is now free from Mamata. Make Delhi free from Rahul Gandhi as well.”
The BJP formed its first government in West Bengal after winning 208 seats in the Assembly elections held in April.
Earlier, Nabin led a march alongside West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari as the saffron party launched a counter-offensive against opposition protests over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which have included demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The march, organised under the banner ‘Save Democracy, End Anarchy’, began at College Street and proceeded towards Esplanade in central Kolkata, with hundreds of BJP supporters joining the rally.
Nabin, Adhikari and state BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya carried national flags during the march, while other senior party leaders also took part.
The BJP has organised similar programmes in several cities across the country, accusing opposition parties of spreading misinformation and creating unrest over the electoral roll revision exercise.
Adhikari also hit out at the opposition over the SIR issue. Explaining the significance of the exercise, he said, “The SIR aims to drive out illegal infiltrators from the country. We have taken to the streets of the city today, raising the slogan ‘anuprabeshkari bhagao’ (drive out infiltrators).”
He claimed that 25,000 people had participated in the ‘Save Democracy, End Anarchy’ rally.
“The opposition parties have come together to support the politics of appeasement, corruption and nepotism. But the people's support is with the BJP. In the 2026 Assembly elections in Bengal, the BJP came to power with the votes of 2.92 crore people,” he said.
Adhikari also hit out at the opposition over the SIR issue. Explaining the significance of the exercise, he said, “The SIR aims to drive out illegal infiltrators from the country. We have taken to the streets of the city today, raising the slogan ‘anuprabeshkari bhagao’ (drive out infiltrators).”
He claimed that 25,000 people had participated in the ‘Save Democracy, End Anarchy’ rally.
“The opposition parties have come together to support the politics of appeasement, corruption and nepotism. But the people's support is with the BJP. In the 2026 Assembly elections in Bengal, the BJP came to power with the votes of 2.92 crore people,” he said.
Adhikari also called for the defeat of what he described as the 'cockroach party', 'dimagi naxals', the 'tukde-tukde gang' and 'jammats'.
Earlier in the day, Adhikari received Nabin at the airport upon his arrival in Kolkata. The two leaders then proceeded to College Street, where party workers had begun assembling ahead of the march.
Addressing the gathering before the march, BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said the programme was aimed at defending democracy against what he described as opposition parties' attempts to create anarchy.
“The people are with the truth and against falsehood,” he said.
BJP MLA Arjun Singh, who is also associated with the transport sector, alleged that foreign forces were funding attempts to undermine democracy in the country.
Earlier in the day, Nabin participated in a similar programme in Bhagalpur, Bihar, where he targeted opposition leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, over their protests against the SIR exercise.