On Monday, the Calcutta High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to cancel the candidacy of Suvendu Adhikari, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for the Bhabanipur constituency in West Bengal. The petitioner argued that Adhikari's comments were detrimental to the secular fabric of the nation. However, the court, led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, found the petition lacked a constitutional basis and did not admit it for hearing. Adhikari is set to face off against Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister and leader of the Trinamool Congress, in the upcoming elections on April 29. The first phase of the elections for the 294-member West Bengal assembly took place on April 23, with results to be counted on May 4. Adhikari's lawyer, Billwadal Bhattacharya, argued that the petition was politically motivated and aimed at undermining Adhikari's candidacy.