'Unable To End Extortion': West Bengal BJP Chief Admits Challenge, Warns Party Leaders

Last Updated:August 02, 2026, 08:18 IST

West Bengal BJP chief, while admitting that not everything they promised to change has happened, cautioned his own party leaders against excesses and promised better business vibe

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal unit president Samik Bhattacharya on Saturday admitted that extortion has not yet been eradicated in West Bengal even after his party came to power on that promise. He acknowledged that some members within his own party’s ranks were displaying such tendencies.

He noted that the government has been in office for only two months and cautioned against expecting immediate transformation, as per an India Today report. Bhattacharya also warned party workers and supporters against acts such as throwing eggs at opposition leaders, warning such behaviour could come back to haunt them as well.

Speaking at the ‘Udyami Samagam’ at IIT Kharagpur Research Park in Rajarhat, adjacent to Kolkata, he said it would be misleading to claim that extortion had been fully eliminated. He pointed out that entrenched practices, including syndicate-driven profiteering, could not be dismantled overnight.

“Our government has come to power only two months ago. We have not been able to solve all problems. If I say on behalf of my party that we have been able to eradicate extortion from everywhere, then I will be making a false claim. There are deviations," he said, as per the report.

Bhattacharya added that some individuals had quickly joined the ruling party after the change in power, while others were now acting on long-held ambitions. Efforts were underway, he said, to rein in such tendencies, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also taking a firm stance.

He further noted that a section of party workers was attempting to extend political influence across sectors such as education, healthcare and business.

Emphasising the need for a cleaner business climate, Bhattacharya said West Bengal had an opportunity to move beyond its troubled industrial past. He stressed that keeping partisan politics out of commerce was essential to reversing capital flight and attracting fresh investment.

“We are trying to build a government for West Bengal, not just a BJP government," he was quoted saying.

While acknowledging only partial progress so far, Bhattacharya claimed the administration had begun creating a more secure investment environment. He assured businesses they could now operate without coercion, adding that any attempts at intimidation should be reported to authorities.

Describing the new government as being in its “adolescent" phase, he urged the business community to openly point out shortcomings and even protest if necessary, warning that suppressing dissent would be counterproductive.

Referring to the scrapping of the Urban Land Ceiling Act to unlock land for development, Bhattacharya said the government would soon hold consultations with investors, entrepreneurs, academics and industrialists before finalising a new industrial policy.

Overall, he said the government was working to curb extortion, depoliticise business and create a more investment-friendly environment, while also cautioning his own party against excesses.

News india 'Unable To End Extortion': West Bengal BJP Chief Admits Challenge, Warns Party Leaders

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