'Better vote BJP than TMC...': Adhir Ranjan's video sparks row
Senior Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has one again stirred controversy with his recent comments at a poll rally in West Bengal. He suggested that voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party would be a "better" choice than supporting the Trinamool Congress (TMC). These remarks were later shared in a video by BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who claimed that Chowdhury "knows" that a vote for TMC could potentially "harm" West Bengal.
Chowdhury's election remarks draw mixed reactions
Fellow Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh, stated he had not yet viewed the video of Chowdhury's controversial comments. Despite this, Ramesh emphasized that the primary goal of the Congress party was to significantly reduce the number of seats held by the BJP since 2019. He also reminded everyone that both Left parties and Congress are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, as is the TMC according to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Trinamool Congress reacts strongly to Chowdhury's comments
The TMC responded vehemently to Chowdhury's comments, accusing him of being a mouthpiece for the BJP in Bengal and labeling him as their "B-Team." The party further criticized Chowdhury, stating, "After acting as the eyes and ears of BJP in Bengal, Adhir Chowdhury has now been promoted to be the voice of the BJP in Bengal." They accused him of campaigning for a party that had "refused to release Bengal's rightful due and deprived our people of their rights."
Chief minister alleges Congress and CPM aid BJP
At a poll rally on April 28, West Bengal CM Banerjee alleged that the Congress and Commuist Party of India (Marxist) were aiding the BJP in the state. She stated, "We don't have any alliance in Bengal with the Congress. Here the CPI(M) is [in]...alliance with the Congress. Both are hand-in gloves with the BJP." Banerjee warned voters that casting a vote for either party would be tantamount to cutting the anti-BJP vote share and helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
