Is West Bengal seeing the rise of ‘bulldozer governance’?| Capital Beat

The rapid demolition of alleged illegal structures in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, particularly in Muslim-dominated localities, has sparked sharp political and legal debate in the state. Critics have accused the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of replicating Uttar Pradesh’s “bulldozer politics”.

Amid the multiple demolition drives, including the razing of a clock tower in Garia and action against buildings in Tiljala following a fire that killed two people and injured three others, The Federal spoke with senior journalist Sameer Purkayastha, human rights activist and lawyer Kirity Roy, and Bengal Congress spokesperson Chandan Ghosh in this edition of Capital Beat on whether the state government’s actions were justified or selectively targeted.

Separate incidents

Purkayastha said that the demolition of an office of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which lost power to the BJP in the recent elections, in Kolkata’s New Market area and the official demolition drives carried out by the new administration led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari were separate incidents.

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According to him, the TMC office was allegedly demolished by “BJP hoodlums” in the Hogg Market area, after which police arrested some individuals. The police commissioner of Kolkata reportedly stated that party supporters taking the law into their own hands would not be tolerated.

Purkayastha also said that the demolition of the clock tower in Garia stemmed from a court order. The structure, he said, had allegedly encroached upon a playground, and residents largely welcomed its removal because they regained access to the open space.

However, he said the Tiljala demolitions were far more controversial.

Tiljala controversy

A fire broke out at a building in Tiljala on Tuesday (May 12), after which the state government claimed the affected buildings were illegal and lacked proper sanction plans and fire safety clearances. Purkayastha said the administration moved quickly, with bulldozers arriving within hours of Adhikari announcing action.

He pointed out that the Calcutta High Court later put an interim stay on the demolition and scheduled the next hearing for May 21.

“The structures may have been illegal, but proper procedure should still have been followed,” Purkayastha said, arguing that residents were not given adequate notice before demolition began.

He added that many occupants were unable to remove household belongings such as refrigerators and televisions, and were only able to carry essential documents, cash, and jewellery before vacating.

“At least 12 hours’ notice should have been given,” he said, stressing that even demolition exercises must remain within the framework of law.

Minority concerns

The journalist also raised concerns over the government specifically naming localities, such as Tiljala, Topsia, and Metiabruz, during the crackdown.

“These are all Muslim-dominated areas,” he said. “Without explicitly saying much, the government is targeting a particular community.”

He argued that the messaging resembled the political symbolism associated with bulldozer actions in Uttar Pradesh under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

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According to him, BJP leaders in Bengal were consciously invoking that imagery. He cited BJP MP Raju Bista’s remark about bringing “a dozen bulldozers from Uttar Pradesh” to Siliguri in north Bengal to remove illegal structures.

“The emphasis on Uttar Pradesh is symbolic,” Purkayastha said. “It is an attempt to project a macho governance model associated with bulldozer politics.”

Due process

Roy strongly criticised the demolition drives, saying forced evictions without rehabilitation violated both constitutional protections and international norms.

“I am always against forced eviction, no matter which government or party is in power,” he said.

Roy argued that governments must act through “fair and accountable due process” rather than arbitrary executive orders.

He questioned why action was only being taken against residents and not against officials who allegedly allowed illegal structures to come up in the first place. He accused the government of bypassing constitutional safeguards and due process.

“Why no action against the government officials who permitted these constructions?” Roy asked.

He also referred to the Supreme Court's observations on rehabilitation and eviction procedures, arguing that demolitions without compensation or alternative arrangements were unacceptable.

“The minorities are feeling insecure,” Roy said, accusing the administration of selectively focusing on one community.

Political messaging

Ghosh said the demolition drives reflected an attempt by the BJP government to send a political message immediately after assuming power. According to him, it is a kind of "muscle flexing" to intimidate communities and consolidate political control.

“The bulldozer has become a concept of intimidation,” the Congress official said. “It started in Uttar Pradesh and is now being replicated elsewhere.”

He argued that the government was using demolition drives to create fear among political opponents and minority communities while simultaneously trying to strengthen its organisational base in Bengal.

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According to Ghosh, bulldozers had become symbolic of a governance model that prioritised force over democratic accountability.

“The government is ignoring civic rights, constitutional rights, and even due process,” he said.

Ghosh also distinguished between the Garia clock tower demolition and residential demolitions in Tiljala. He acknowledged that illegal encroachments on public land could legitimately be removed, but insisted that accountability must extend beyond residents to those who approved such projects.

“You should investigate the officials who took money and allowed these buildings to come up,” he said.

Eviction fears

Purkayastha pointed to another recent development involving railway eviction notices served to nearly 6,000 slum dwellers in Kolkata’s suburbs.

He said the Calcutta High Court had stayed that eviction drive as well.

According to him, the issue highlighted a growing pattern of evictions being carried out without adequate rehabilitation measures.

“If evictions are necessary, rehabilitation must happen first,” he said. “You cannot simply demolish homes where people have lived for years and leave them to fend for themselves.”

Bengal's 'bulldozer governance'

Despite the criticism, the panel acknowledged that illegal constructions remain a serious issue across Kolkata and Bengal.

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Purkayastha noted that illegal buildings also exist in wetlands and environmentally sensitive zones, adding that the government’s credibility would depend on whether action was taken uniformly rather than selectively.

For now, the political debate over “bulldozer governance” in Bengal appears set to intensify as courts continue hearing challenges to recent demolition drives.

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