Kolkata,, Oct. 22 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's claim that the BJP's strength would rise to 275 in the Assembly if a floor test were held, despite the party having 209 MLAs, drew sharp criticism from the principal Opposition, the Mamata All India Trinamool Congress.

On Wednesday, Adhikari claimed that 64 Opposition MLAs elected on TMC tickets were ready to break ranks and support the BJP government. He asserted that the ruling party would secure the backing of 275 legislators in the 294-member Assembly if a floor test were held.

Mamata Trinamool MLA Kunal Ghosh issued a sharp counter-challenge, daring Adhikari to conduct a floor test via secret ballot in the State Legislative Assembly. "Trinamool is fully ready to accept a floor test, but it should be conducted using a secret ballot box so that no legislator knows how their neighbour voted," Ghosh stated, adding: "If a truly confidential vote takes place, Adhikari will not even be able to retain the support of his own 209 BJP MLAs."

Ghosh also stated that Adhikari's public remarks effectively proved the TMC's long-standing allegations true-namely, that the ruling BJP has been using certain opposition factions as agents and fronts. He further claimed that Adhikari's rhetoric was not genuinely aimed at the opposition, but was rather a defensive challenge to the RSS and old BJP members who are reportedly dissatisfied with the current government's performance.

Adhikari on Navami, Tuesday, travelled across four Bengal districts to meet the families of six victims of the Chorebagan pandal stampede in north Calcutta and give them financial compensation.

Nineteen people died in the stampede at Chorebagan Sarbajanin Durgotsav Samiti on October 17 evening. Adhikari first visited the homes of two victims, Sandip Bej and Tagor Bej, at Madhabdihi village in East Burdwan. He then visited the homes of victim Piyali Pramanik in Arambagh in Hooghly; Arati Sarkar in Nadia's Chakdah; Sreeparna Poddar in Hooghly's Baidyabati; and Akriti Kumar in Howrah's Bally.

Speaking in Hooghly, Adhikari also sought to underline the contrast between his government and that of his predecessor. "Have you ever heard of a government paying compensation of Rs 25 lakh?" Adhikari asked.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.