In what has startled the political fraternity Bengal Congress president Adhir Chowhdury has said that in Bengal it was better to vote for the BJP than to vote for the Trinamool Congress.
While both the TMC and BJP went to town interpreting Chowdhury to their own advantage the Pradesh Congress leadership demanded his statement to be read in its true context.
Chowdhury earlier campaigning for CPI(M) leader Md Salim told a rally that it was necessary for the Left and the Congress to win in order to save the Indian secular fabric and as there was no difference between the BJP and the TMC it was better to vote for the former than to vote for Mamata Banerjee’s outfit.
“It is time people understand that only the Congress and the Left can save Indian secularism and democracy … the TMC which is claiming to fight the BJP is actually hand-in-gloves with that party … as there is no difference between them and as TMC means BJP and BJP means TMC it is better then, to vote for the BJP instead of voting for the TMC,” Chowdhury said.
His statement came a day after Mamata Banerjee said that the Congress and the Left were helping the BJP in Bengal insofar as they were slicing away the TMC’s votes to make things easier for the saffron outfit.
A furious TMC leadership which had earlier said that the Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance in Bengal BJP existed only outside the borders of Bengal went after Chowdhury for upholding the BJP’s interest in the State.
“His true political intent and character is hidden in his statement … finally he has acknowledged that it is the TMC and not any other party which is resisting the BJP in Bengal,” TMC’s Shantanu Sen said.
The party wrote on X “only a Bangla-Birodhi (anti-Bengal) person can campaign for the BJP, which has repeatedly insulted Bengal’s icons. On May 13, the people of Baharampur will give a befitting response to this betrayal!,” adding as to how “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. Listen to how the B-Team member is openly asking people to vote for the BJP – a party that REFUSED to release Bengal’s rightful due and deprived our people of their rights.”
The BJP on the other hand lapped up Chowdhury’s statement saying that the Congress leader’s statement emanated from his realization that a single vote to TMC would mean a vote given against the interests of Bengal.
“Even Adhir Da tallest leader of Congress knows that a vote for TMC is a vote that will harm Bengal because of TMC policies to defend corrupt syndicate, mafias, blast accused, terrorists & rapists like Shahjahan Shaikh in Sandeshkhali,” party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said.
Chowdhury who has won from Behrampore for five consecutive times has of late been on a treacherous wicket for the reason that the BJP has witnessed remarkable progress in the constituency.
Going by the 2021 Assembly election records the Congress is presently in the third position trailing the TMC and the BJP in all the seven Assembly segments. Chowdhury’s chances have further dwindled on account of the TMC fielding former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan form the seat which has more than 60 percent Muslim votes.
