West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari traveled to Murshidabad by road on Friday after heavy rain led him to cancel a planned flight, a senior official said. The trip is his first to the district since taking office.
Adhikari is set to join a BJP organisational meeting at a Berhampore hotel and later hold an administrative review at Rabindra Sadan. In the evening he will address a party gathering in Rejinagar, an event drawing attention after recent comments by AJUP founder and Nowda MLA Humayun Kabir.
Widespread monsoon showers hit West Bengal, with Cooch Behar recording the highest rainfall at 143 mm in the 24 hours to Friday morning. Officials changed travel plans because poor weather made flying unsafe.
“We had planned for the leader of the Opposition to travel by air. However, continuous rain and prevailing weather conditions made flying unviable. After reviewing the situation, it was decided that he would proceed by road. All necessary security and logistical arrangements were made accordingly,” the official said.
The Rejinagar event has drawn political interest as the seat is viewed as a stronghold of Kabir, who recently sparked controversy over alleged inflammatory remarks. During the Assembly session Adhikari accused Kabir of trying to polarise voters ahead of a bypoll expected after the AJUP leader vacated the seat, which his son is likely to contest.
Kabir said his remarks targeted those who joined the BJP in Murshidabad after the Assembly elections and were allegedly threatening him, not the state government. Adhikari also told the Assembly that two criminal cases had been filed against Kabir at Shaktipur and Rejinagar police stations, raising speculation about possible arrest, and announced he would visit Murshidabad within a week.
Despite the weather disruption, Adhikari completed the Murshidabad visit by road and is scheduled for a series of party and administrative engagements, including the closely watched Rejinagar meeting.
