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Suvendu courts Muslim voters with development promises in Rejinagar
Rejinagar is holding a special election on October 6.
Most people in the constituency are Muslim, while about 30% are Hindu.
Suvendu Adhikari asked voters not to treat the election as a Hindu-Muslim contest.
He said he represents people of every community.
He asked voters to choose development and support BJP candidate Sakharov Sarkar.
He promised jobs, factories, healthcare, housing and help for minority communities.
He also said he would bring back about 40,000 migrant workers within two years.
His speech was less confrontational than earlier comments that opposition leaders criticized.
Suvendu Adhikari appealed to Rejinagar voters to reject Hindu-Muslim framing and support development.
The Muslim-majority constituency has a bypoll scheduled for October 6, with Muslims comprising about 70% of voters.
He promised an industrial hub, healthcare, housing, minority welfare, jobs and 125 days of work.
Suvendu pledged to bring back about 40,000 migrant workers within two years and said factories could begin emerging within 18 months.
His softer Rejinagar message contrasted with earlier remarks that opposition parties described as threatening and communal.
- Who
- Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, BJP candidate Sakharov Sarkar, and competing parties and candidates in Rejinagar.
- What
- A BJP campaign appeal in which Suvendu sought minority support and made development and employment promises ahead of the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll.
- Where
- Rejinagar in Murshidabad, at a public meeting at the Shaktipur Uday Sangh ground.
- When
- Thursday; the bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
- Why
- To win a seat where Muslims make up about 70% of the electorate and to support BJP candidate Sakharov Sarkar.
Development-focused outreach
Opposition criticism of communal rhetoric
Campaign message
Development-focused outreach
Suvendu urged voters not to view the contest through a Hindu-Muslim prism and said development should guide their choice.
Opposition criticism of communal rhetoric
Opposition figures accused him of using communal and intimidating language in earlier remarks directed at minority voters.
Political approach
Development-focused outreach
The BJP presented its campaign as an effort to serve all communities and promised jobs, industry, healthcare, housing and minority welfare.
Opposition criticism of communal rhetoric
The opposition questioned the earlier framing of the election as a test of whether minorities would support the government and cooperate with the chief minister.
Key facts
- Constituency
- Rejinagar, Murshidabad
- Election date
- October 6
- Religious composition
- About 70% Muslim and 30% Hindu electorate
- BJP vote share
- 27.02% in the Assembly polls
- Employment promise
- Bring back about 40,000 migrant workers within two years
- Industrial promise
- An industrial township is expected to begin taking shape within 18 months
- Welfare figures
- About 70,000 women reportedly receive ₹3,000 monthly Annapurna benefits; 2,01,555 residents reportedly have Ayushman Bharat coverage
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
Chief minister and BJP leader addressing voters in Rejinagar
“Don’t get bound by the 70:30 narrative. Don’t make this a Hindu-Muslim issue. I will make Rejinagar a model Assembly constituency like Falta. Vote for the government and send Sakharov Sarkar to the Assembly and make me indebted to you.”
telegraphindia.com
“I will bring back 40,000 workers in two years. I will decorate Rejinagar with my own hands and provide 125 days of work for the next six months.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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