Lok Sabha Elections 2024: A day after Mallikarjun Kharge snubbed West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for questioning Mamata Banerjee’s loyalty to the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc, several posters and hoardings of the Congress’ national president were defaced with ink in front of the party state headquarters in Kolkata on Sunday (May 19). Kharge was described as an “agent of Trinamool Congress” on the posters and hoardings. According to sources in Congress, Chowdhury, who is in his hometown Baharampur, expressed displeasure over the incident and asked the party workers to file a police complaint. The defaced posters were also removed and a case was registered.
A party leader alleged that the incident was made to happen by the TMC aiming to create differences between senior Congress leaders and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
What had Kharge said?
Kharge on Saturday had snubbed Chowdhury while responding to a query on Mamata Banerjee's comment that if the I.N.D.I.A bloc forms the government, she would support it from outside, and the Bengal Congress chief’s remark that she cannot be trusted and that she might go with the BJP.
"Mamata Banerjee is with the alliance. She has recently said that she will join the government. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will not take the decision. The decision will be taken by me and the high command and those who don't agree will go out," Kharge had said.
He said that Chowdhury is no one to decide if Mamata would be a part of the bloc if the Opposition alliance comes to power in the Lok Sabha elections.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reacts
While reacting to Kharge’s remarks, Chowdhury reiterated his criticism for Mamata stating that he cannot “speak in favour” of someone who “wants to finish me and our party in Bengal politically”.
“This is a battle for every Congress worker. I have spoken on their behalf. I don't want the state Congress to be used for her (Banerjee's) personal agenda and then finish the organisation.. If Kharge ji speaks against my views, I will continue to speak for Congressmen at the grassroots in the state,” he said.
The TMC ditched the Congress over alliance in West Bengal and decided to fight all 42 seats alone. The Congress, on the other hand, announced to contest jointly with the Left in the polls.
On Sunday, Chowdhury, while speaking to reporters at his Baharampur party office, reiterated that the Congress state unit would continue fighting against the TMC.
I cannot befriend Mamata: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
"We would reciprocate her policy of fighting against us in the state while being part of I.N.D.I.A bloc at Delhi. She has only said that there would be no alliance in West Bengal," he said. He said the Congress's fight against the TMC is a "fight for morality" and "struggle of the oppressed against the oppressor".
Chowdhury blamed Banerjee for "destroying" both Congress and CPI (M) in the state.
"I have no hesitation in saying that we would not be able to pamper Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. I cannot support a person who has destroyed the state Congress over the years. I cannot befriend her. She has systematically destroyed both CPI (M) and Congress," he added.
(With PTI inputs)
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