Tollywood actor and Trinamool Congress MP Dev on Tuesday congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party on its historic win in the recently-held West Bengal state legislative assembly elections held in 2026.
In his social media post, the actor-politician shared a message emphasising the importance of peace, development, and unity in the new regime, while simultaneously highlighting problems in the Bengali movie industry.
“Congratulations to the BJP on receiving the mandate to form the new government in Bengal,” Dev wrote.
“I sincerely hope the government works towards the progress, peace and development of our state and make sure people’s voice is heard.”
The BJP registered a landmark victory in West Bengal by crossing the majority mark and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state. The election result marked the party’s first full-fledged government in Bengal, turning the state into one of the biggest political battlegrounds of the 2026 Assembly polls.
Dev, who has represented the Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency since 2014, also used the moment to highlight concerns surrounding the Bengali film industry.
Dev calls for end to ‘culture of bans’
In his statement, the actor appealed to the incoming government to maintain unity within the film fraternity and ensure that cinema remains free from political divisions.
“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,” he wrote.
“Cinema is one of Bengal’s greatest identities, and its growth can only happen through mutual respect, coexistence and collective progress.”
The statement comes at a time when conversations around political influence in Bengali cinema have intensified following the Assembly election campaign, with several actors, filmmakers and industry voices publicly expressing political opinions during the polls.
Ghatal Master Plan back in focus
Apart from cinema and governance, Dev also renewed his appeal for the implementation of the Ghatal Master Plan, a long-pending flood control and river management project considered crucial for residents of the region.
“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,” he wrote.
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“Beyond politics, this is about safeguarding lives, securing livelihoods and giving the people of Ghatal the future they deserve.”
The Ghatal area of West Midnapore often suffers from floods during monsoon season, and the master plan has been an important political and developmental issue for many years now.
Dev’s comments have garnered significant interest on the Internet due to their conciliatory nature, despite the sudden change in politics in Bengal. The actor did not make any political statements but rather talked about unity, development, and culture.
