Veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has ignited a political firestorm following a series of provocative remarks during a public rally in Hooghly district. Invoking the ongoing civil unrest in neighboring Bangladesh, Chakraborty urged Hindu voters across the political spectrum to consolidate against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
A Call for Consolidation
Addressing a crowd in Chandannagar on Thursday, the actor-turned-politician framed the upcoming political landscape as a fight for the state’s identity. He specifically appealed to Hindu supporters of the Left Front, the Congress, and even the TMC to set aside party affiliations.
“I am appealing to my brothers and sisters,” Chakraborty stated. “I request the Hindus within the Communist and Congress parties to join forces. I even say to the Hindus in the Trinamool: let us unite and vote to unseat this government to ensure Bengal does not mirror the fate of Bangladesh.”
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region following reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh, including the recent brutal killing of a young man, Dipu Das, in the Mymensingh district.
TMC Hits Back: “Unfortunate and Polarising”
The Trinamool Congress moved quickly to condemn the veteran actor’s statements, accusing him of attempting to communalize the state’s electorate.
TMC spokesperson Tauseefur Rahman criticized the logic behind the “unification” plea. “It is deeply disappointing to hear such rhetoric from a figure like Mithun Chakraborty. He is implying a lack of unity where none exists,” Rahman said. He further questioned the actor’s stance on regional identity, adding, “If he equates speaking Bengali with being ‘Bangladeshi,’ he should perhaps reflect on his own roots.”
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh echoed these sentiments, dismissing Chakraborty as a political “migrant” who has jumped between parties to suit his interests. “He has taken shelter in the BJP for personal reasons. While he continues to film movies here, he uses his platform only to attack the state government with foul language,” Ghosh remarked.
