Trinamool Congress MP and actor Deepak Adhikari, popularly known as Dev, has put an end to speculation regarding his political future, confirming that he will contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from West Bengal’s Ghatal seat.
The announcement comes days after his viral farewell speech in the Parliament, which triggered uncertainties about his political stance.
“I am going to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is going to announce it soon. I have met Mamata Banerjee as well as AITC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, they have promised me something which I don’t want to say now,” Dev told India Today TV.
“They (Trinamool leadership) have asked me to contest the elections for the sake of the people of Ghatal,” he added.
Following his viral speech in Lok Sabha on the last day of his current tenure, Dev met with AITC General Secretary and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday. The meeting dispelled earlier speculations about the MP’s discontent with his membership and the party’s position.
Expressing his optimism for the future, Dev shared, “I hope to continue the good work for the people of Ghatal. I wish to make the Ghatal model successful, something which people have been dreaming of for several decades”.
Reacting to the suspension of a local leader in Ghatal, Dev said, “I don’t interfere in the party’s organisational decisions. I have always obeyed leadership. Therefore, only Didi can answer this”.
Bengali actor and Member of Parliament, Dev, delivered what he termed his “last speech” in the Lok Sabha on February 8. He later shared his address on social media with the caption: “My last day in Parliament.”
“This is my last speech in parliament. I have consistently advocated for the Ghatal master plan since day one. It is not just a TMC or BJP concern; it is about the welfare of the people,” Dev said.
Dev, a well-known Bengali cine star, recently submitted his abrupt resignation from three state government committees in his constituency.
In resignation letters addressed to the District Magistrate, Dev stepped down as the Vice-Chairman of Birsingha Development Authority, Chairman of Rogi Kalyan Samity – Ghatal SD Hospital, and President of Ghatal Rabindra Satabarshiki Maha Vidyalaya.
Dev contested the Ghatal Lok Sabha seat first in 2014 and won the seat for TMC again in 2019.