Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari set the tone earlier, declaring he owes his wins in Nandigram and Bhabanipur to Hindu voters — and that’s who he’ll work for
NEW DELHI — In clear violation of ethical norms in a democracy, a politician from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has categorically stated that he would not carry out any public work for Muslim constituents who did not vote for him in the recent elections.
Ritesh Tiwari, the party’s MLA from Kashipur-Belgachia, said Tuesday that he would not do a single day of public work for Muslim constituents because they didn’t vote for him. No certificates. No projects. Nothing for five years.
“I am the first candidate in 74 years who did not get a single Muslim vote,” Tiwari told The Indian Express. “Those who voted for me have a right over me. As for those who did not — I didn’t even ask for their votes. With Baba Bholenath as my witness, I won’t do any work for them. Not one certificate.”
The comment triggered outrage across the state. Critics say it’s a direct violation of a public servant’s constitutional duty: serve all citizens, not just your voter base. Religion, caste, political leanings — none of it is supposed to matter.
Tiwari isn’t alone. New Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari set the tone earlier, declaring he owes his wins in Nandigram and Bhabanipur to Hindu voters — and that’s who he’ll work for. “The Hindu people of Nandigram made me win again,” Adhikari said. “The entire Muslim vote went to TMC. They are Kattarwadi (hardliners). I will work for the Hindus of Nandigram.”
Tiwari defeated Trinamool Congress candidate Atin Ghosh, a senior civic official, by a margin of 1,651 votes.
He added, “This is being aired live. But I do not care who thinks what and who says what. Modiji [Prime Minister Narendra Modi] says ‘together with all, development for all’, I accept that. But in this election, he has added a few more words: ‘everyone’s account will be settled’. So I will settle accounts.”
When contacted by The Indian Express, Tiwari stood by his remarks, reiterating that electoral support should determine the allocation of limited resources.
BJP state spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said he was unaware of the comments and declined to react without watching the viral video.
The backlash has been swift. Opposition leaders and civil society groups are calling it textbook discrimination from the ruling party’s own elected reps. The question now: If elected officials openly say they’ll govern by religion, what’s left of democratic norms?
CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty criticised Tiwari’s remarks, saying they reflected a disregard for constitutional values, warning of public resistance to such political messaging.
