“Better to Vote for BJP than TMC,” Says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress Scrambles for Damage Control

Kolkata: Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stirred controversy in West Bengal with his statement suggesting it’s better to vote for the BJP over the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Chowdhury’s remarks, captured in a viral video, prompted reactions from various quarters.

While the Congress moved to clarify its stance, emphasizing its primary goal of reducing the BJP’s seat count from the 2019 elections, Chowdhury’s words drew criticism from the BJP, which seized upon the opportunity to target the Congress. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla highlighted Chowdhury’s statement as evidence of the Congress’s acknowledgement that voting for the TMC could be detrimental to Bengal’s interests.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, however, refrained from commenting directly on Chowdhury’s statement, stating he had not seen the video. Ramesh reiterated the Congress’s focus on diminishing the BJP’s presence in Bengal.

Meanwhile, the TMC accused Chowdhury of aligning with the BJP’s agenda, labelling him as the B-Team of the BJP. The party denounced Chowdhury’s remarks as a betrayal of Bengal’s interests and urged voters to reject such divisive politics.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also weighed in, alleging that the Congress and CPI(M) were aiding the BJP’s efforts in the state. Mamata emphasized that her party had no alliance with the Congress in Bengal and cautioned voters against inadvertently supporting the BJP by casting their votes for Congress or CPI(M).