Kolkata: Autocracy and arrogance are not part of BJP’s ideology, and Bengal’s history has never accepted them, CM Suvendu Adhikari and Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said on Thursday.At an event to mark the day when Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, the CM drew parallels with “what Bengal faced in the past 15 years”.“Those who have diverged from the path of democracy could not survive for long. There is no place for autocracy, arrogance, despotism and compromise with injustice in our society. We believe in ‘us’ and not ‘me’. For us, the nation comes first,” Adhikari said.The 2026 state assembly poll result was a pointer to that, the CM said, adding: “People have defeated her in the election. The mandate of 2026 gave us the responsibility to transform people’s trust into an honour for us.”Earlier in the day, Adhikari posted on X: “We remember the remarkable bravery of everyday citizens who refused to bow down, choosing instead to protect the sacred principles of our democracy. To this day, the Constitution remains the living pulse of 140 crore Indians, securing our rights and guiding our duties.”Bengal BJP chief Bhattacharya, also present at the programme, said there was no place for arrogance and ego in a democracy and politics. “India does not believe in dynastic politics,” he said.Only a day earlier, Bhattacharya warned his party colleagues and lawmakers “not to deviate from the path of humility”. Sounding a note of caution for newly elected MLAs, Bhattacharya on Wednesday said people do not accept any kind of “deviation”.At Thursday’s event, the Bengal BJP president said the right to protest is a basic essence of democracy. “Those who have attacked a democratic party were defeated. Whether it is the society, a govt or a political party, there is no place for autocracy,” he said.While he spoke about the situation during Emergency and the political landscape in Bengal over the past five decades, Bhattacharya also sent a message to his party men, asking them not to repeat the “mistakes of Trinamool Congress”.
