West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari began his first official North Bengal Visit on Wednesday with a strong political message and a promise of regular engagement with the region. Addressing the media after arriving in Bagdogra, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister assured that every election promise made by the BJP to North Bengal would be fulfilled without compromise.
The visit generated intense political buzz across North Bengal from early morning, with thousands of BJP workers, supporters and local residents gathering outside Bagdogra Airport to welcome the Chief Minister. Adhikari greeted the crowd with folded hands and thanked the people of the region for repeatedly backing the BJP in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections over the years.
Standing alongside Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and newly appointed North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik, the Chief Minister said the time had come for his government to “repay the trust” shown by the people of North Bengal since 2009.
“We will fulfil every commitment we made before the Assembly elections,” Adhikari said firmly. He also announced that he and members of his Cabinet would visit North Bengal every month to directly monitor administrative and development work.
In a sharp remark aimed at previous administrative practices, the Chief Minister said the visits would not be symbolic or ceremonial. “We are not coming here for sightseeing or to enjoy the hills. We are coming here to work,” he stated.
He further announced that North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik would hold weekly administrative sessions at Uttarkanya, the state government’s mini-secretariat in Siliguri, to hear public grievances and ensure quicker resolution of issues.
From Bagdogra Airport, Adhikari travelled directly to Uttarkanya in Siliguri’s Satellite Township area, where he chaired a high-level administrative review meeting. MLAs from five northern districts, senior police officials including IGs and SPs, and top bureaucrats attended the meeting.
According to sources in Nabanna, the upcoming monsoon season dominated the discussions, with a major focus on flood preparedness, landslides, flash floods and river erosion — recurring challenges in North Bengal.
The meeting also reviewed road infrastructure modernisation, law and order concerns, and long-pending issues related to tea garden workers, including wages and healthcare facilities.
One of the most significant directives from the Chief Minister was the adoption of a “Zero Tolerance” policy against illegal construction, land encroachment and the sand-and-stone smuggling mafia operating in river belts across North Bengal.
Political observers believe the Chief Minister’s first North Bengal Visit and the renewed focus on Uttarkanya signal a major administrative shift under the new BJP-led government. With promises of monthly reviews and weekly ministerial presence in the region, the government appears determined to strengthen both governance and political footing in North Bengal.
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