Bengal CM Adhikari's second 'Janata Darbar' draws huge response as people queue up with grievances

People gather to meet West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, during the `Janata Darbar` programme, at BJP office. Pic/PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday held his second weekly 'Janata darbar', with job seekers, teachers, professionals and ordinary citizens turning up in large numbers to place their grievances directly before the state's new CM, reported PTI.

Long before Adhikari arrived, hundreds of people thronged the BJP state office in Salt Lake near here, turning the narrow lanes around the building into a waiting lounge.

Job aspirants carried files, and elderly citizens clutched bundles of papers, while representatives from teaching associations, nurses, women police jobseekers and others, hoping years of unanswered appeals would finally find a hearing, were present.

From early morning, long queues formed outside the party office as people carrying petitions and memoranda waited patiently for an opportunity to interact with the chief minister, who launched the initiative after assuming office on May 9 as part of a direct public outreach exercise, reported PTI.

The first 'Janata darbar' was held on May 18.

Chants greet CM Adhikari as people from across Bengal gather at party office

According to PTI, as Adhikari reached the venue around 10 am, chants of "Jai Shri Ram", "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram" echoed through the area.

Many had travelled from districts and far-flung corners of the state seeking a first-hand audience.

The gathering reflected the diversity of Bengal's social landscape -- representatives of teachers' associations, Group D aspirants, medical professionals, part-time teachers, victims of alleged poll violence and individuals seeking intervention in civic and personal matters.

Inside the party office, around 100 individuals and delegations managed to place their grievances before the chief minister, according to party sources, reported PTI.

Job seekers raise recruitment concerns before Suvendu Adhikari in Bengal

According to PTI, representatives from nearly 15 organisations of job seekers and employees submitted memoranda and highlighted recruitment and service-related concerns.

Employment-related issues dominated the interactions. Delegates representing the group of 26,000 "eligible" school job losers appealed for restoration of jobs based on merit. Others sought resumption of permanent recruitment in technical education institutions and raised issues concerning appointments and service conditions.

One of the day's most poignant moments came when 81-year-old Bhabanipur resident Prabir Mukhopadhyay met the chief minister with a complaint regarding an alleged land-for-flat dispute involving arrested businessman Biswajit Poddar alias "Sona Pappu" and promoter Joy Kamdar.

Mukhopadhyay claimed he had handed over ancestral land for a development project, but never received the promised flat after construction was completed. Living in a rented accommodation with his wife, the elderly petitioner later said he felt reassured after meeting the chief minister, reported as per PTI.

"I am relieved. He assured me that my issue would be looked into," he said.

Crowds gather as grievances are raised before Suvendu Adhikari

Among those present were representatives of the West Bengal Women Police Jobseekers Sangrami Manch, who sought intervention over alleged anomalies in recruitment criteria for women police personnel. Others highlighted civic concerns and administrative grievances.

The turnout, however, exceeded the venue's capacity, and many could not get entry despite waiting for hours.
Security personnel had a difficult time managing the crowds as people continued arriving throughout the day.

BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar was seen personally escorting an elderly citizen through the crowd after noticing his difficulty standing in the queue, reported PTI.

Adhikari had announced the weekly programme after taking charge as chief minister, saying citizens would be able to meet him directly every Monday morning.

The weekly outreach initiative is increasingly emerging as one of the BJP government's early public-facing governance exercises after coming to power in Bengal. Similar public hearing models have often featured in BJP-ruled states and are projected by the party as instruments of accessibility and quicker grievance redressal.

Around noon, Adhikari left for the state secretariat 'Nabanna' for official engagements. But outside the party office, many continued waiting -- hopeful that if not a personal audience, at least their petitions would make their way to the chief minister's desk, reported PTI.

(Inputs from PTI)