New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) While Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has refused to accept the Assembly election verdict and step down as Chief Minister, the party’s three-time Lok Sabha member and Bengali film star Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, on Wednesday congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its victory.

“Congratulations to the BJP on receiving the mandate to form the new government in Bengal. I sincerely hope the government works towards the progress, peace and development of our state and makes sure people’s voices are heard,” Dev posted on Facebook on Wednesday.

“As someone deeply connected to both public life and the film fraternity, I would earnestly request the new government to uphold the spirit of unity and artistic freedom by ensuring that the culture of bans and divisions within the Bengali film industry becomes a thing of the past. Cinema is one of Bengal’s greatest identities, and its growth can only happen through mutual respect, coexistence and collective progress,” he added.

However, Dev did not specify the exact period he was referring to while mentioning the “culture of bans and divisions within the Bengali film industry”.

Incidentally, his production “Projapati”, released across West Bengal in December 2022, was not allotted a single slot at Nandan, the state-run cultural and film complex in Kolkata, although other Bengali films released on the same day were screened there.

The controversy had triggered political debate, reportedly because his co-star Mithun Chakraborty had by then joined the BJP after leaving the Trinamool Congress.

Their on-screen pairing was used by sections of the Opposition to highlight what they described as a “Trinamool star associating with a BJP icon”.

Mithun Chakraborty had played Dev’s widower father in the film.

The BJP had then alleged that the exclusion was politically motivated and accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of denying entry to films featuring Mithun Chakraborty because of his BJP affiliation.

Several BJP leaders, including Dilip Ghosh, had described the move as an attack on “artistic and audience freedom”.

At the same time, some Trinamool Congress hardliners had also reportedly expressed discomfort over the association.

Dev had then publicly expressed disappointment over the film missing out on a screening at Nandan, saying he respected the venue and hoped the film would return there in future.

His remarks were seen as an indication that the exclusion was not a decision taken by the filmmakers.

In early 2024, Dev had publicly stated that he was uncertain about contesting the Lok Sabha elections again, saying that “something is on my mind” and that he had discussed the matter with his party chief.

He had added that the final decision would depend on Mamata Banerjee.

Later, he clarified that he would not unilaterally withdraw from electoral politics but stressed that relationships and party loyalty mattered, indirectly indicating his reluctance to contest again while leaving the final decision to the party leadership.

Despite his hesitation, the Trinamool Congress fielded him again from the Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency in West Midnapore district for a third consecutive term.

Dev has consistently advocated the implementation of the Ghatal Master Plan, a major flood management project aimed at tackling recurring floods through river dredging, strengthening of embankments and improvement of drainage systems in Ghatal and surrounding low-lying areas.

“I also look forward to the support and cooperation of the new government towards the completion of the Ghatal Master Plan — a long-cherished dream and necessity for the people of Ghatal. Beyond politics, this is about safeguarding lives, securing livelihoods and giving the people of Ghatal the future they deserve,” he said in his concluding remarks.

The actor-producer has also been widely appreciated for his philanthropic initiatives.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when transportation services were disrupted, Dev used his position as an MP and public figure to organise food distribution and assist stranded and vulnerable people in his constituency and nearby areas.

–IANS

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