BJP leader Arjun Singh on Friday issued a call for a complete social and political boycott of the Trinamool Congress, urging party workers to cut off all engagement with TMC leaders and supporters.
He said BJP members should neither attend programmes organised by the Trinamool Congress nor visit the homes of its workers, and should also refrain from inviting them to any personal or social events.
Addressing party workers, Singh adopted an aggressive tone, calling for intensified opposition against the ruling party. “Do not resort to a token fight; we must declare an outright war against the Trinamool Congress,” he said. Urging party cadres to harden their stance, Singh added, “If any Trinamool worker invites you to an event at their home, do not go. You must bring anger and hatred against them. You must ignite fire in your own blood.” He further stated, “Beat them with a stick and cool them down,” while appealing to party workers to socially isolate Trinamool supporters.
The remarks triggered sharp reactions from the Trinamool Congress, with the party’s IT cell leader Devangshu Bhattacharya questioning Singh’s credibility and consistency. Taking a dig at Singh’s repeated party switches, Bhattacharya said, “Will he himself be able to maintain a boycott? Who knows when he might return to the Trinamool Congress again.” He added sarcastically, “Political loyalties do not change as frequently as new moon and full moon, but he has changed parties even faster than that. Sometimes I forget which party he currently belongs to.”
Bhattacharya also criticised Singh’s use of the term “stick,” alleging violent undertones. “For him, a stick does not mean a stick; it means a bomb. He keeps bombs hidden in rice containers,” he claimed, urging the police administration to examine the statements and take appropriate action.
Arjun Singh’s comments come amid scrutiny of his own shifting political affiliations over the years. He quit the Trinamool Congress in 2019 to join the BJP and won the Lok Sabha election that year. In 2022, he returned to the TMC, but switched back to the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections after being denied a ticket. Following his defeat to Trinamool candidate Partha Bhowmik in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Singh stated that he would not change parties again.
