In a significant legal victory for BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to cancel his candidature from the Bhabanipur constituency. The court’s refusal to admit the petition ensures that the high-stakes battle between Adhikari and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will proceed as scheduled for the upcoming second phase of the assembly polls.
The petitioner moved the High Court seeking the disqualification of Adhikari, alleging that the BJP leader had made public remarks detrimental to the “secular fabric” of the nation. The plea argued that such comments should render him ineligible to contest the elections.
However, the legal challenge faltered during the preliminary hearing when the court questioned the constitutional basis of the demand. A division bench, presided over by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, specifically sought clarification on which provision of the Constitution of India allows for the cancellation of a candidature under such circumstances.
According to court proceedings, the petitioner was unable to provide a satisfactory legal or constitutional justification for the request. Finding no merit in the arguments presented, the division bench rejected the petition outright and refused to admit it for further hearing.
Representing Suvendu Adhikari, advocate Billwadal Bhattacharya argued that the PIL was not a genuine legal grievance but a politically motivated attempt to disrupt Adhikari’s campaign in Bhabanipur.
The Bhabanipur seat has emerged as the most watched contest in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly elections. Suvendu Adhikari, a former close aide to Mamata Banerjee who switched to the BJP, is facing off against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief in what is seen as a prestige battle for both parties.
The West Bengal assembly elections are being held in multiple phases. While the first phase of polling concluded on April 23, Bhabanipur is slated to go to the polls in the second phase on April 29. The final results for all constituencies will be declared on May 4.
