Under fire Suvendu ‘junks' vikas motto, clarifies; BJP 'divided'

POLL VAULT | Adhikari's 'LoP'-sided comment on 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' puts him in a spot, does not go down well with party honchos in West Bengal

- Aritra Singha

Following the successive failures in polls be it the Lok Sabha or the recent Assembly byelection, West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who has been facing the heat over the election's outcome, created a flutter on Wednesday.

At the extended session of the BJP's state executive committee, the first after the poll results, Suvendu said, "We will save the Hindus and save the Constitution. I spoke about 'nationalist' Muslims and you all said 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. But I shall say it no more. Rather, we shall now say, 'Jo hamare saath, hum unke saath. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas band karo' (We are with those who are with us. Let's put an end to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas).

He added BJP should also wind up its Minority Morcha.

"We shall enter Nabanna only after we get the mandate. We don't want or do anything unscrupulous or use power to enter the corridors of power through the back door," he said.

Suvendu called for removing the minority wing.

Reiterating his position and the ballot outcome, Suvendu said he is the LoP and not incharge of the organisation.