Shamik Bhattacharya's praise for Jyoti Basu sparks row; Left, Congress hit back

Newly appointed West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya has stirred political waters with an unexpected tribute to late CPI(M) stalwart Jyoti Basu, while appealing to the Left and Congress to form a grand alliance against the ruling Trinamool Congress in the 2026 Assembly elections.

However, both opposition parties have categorically rejected the proposal, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy and communal politics.

Speaking on the birth anniversary of BJP ideologue Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Bhattacharya urged political opponents to set aside ideological differences and unite for the "greater cause of saving Bengal." "This is the time to rise above party flags. Those who revere Jyoti Basu must come together to free Bengal from the misrule of Trinamool Congress. This is not about any one party-it's about protecting the state," he said.

He further claimed that Jyoti Basu had once supported a proposal moved by Syama Prasad Mookerjee and added that the threat of Islamic fundamentalism, akin to what was witnessed during the 1947 Partition, is once again looming large in the state. "This menace cannot be countered by one party alone; all political forces must come together," Bhattacharya said.