Lok Sabha Elections: A video of senior Congress leader and sitting MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was shared with the leader purportedly saying it is "better to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party than to vote for the Trinamool Congress."
The eight-second viral video clip of Chowdhury's speech during an election rally in West Bengal's Murshidabad was shared by BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla.
The TMC also shared the video claiming that Adhir is "BJP's eyes and ears in Bengal". However, the viral video prompted a denial from Congress, which claimed that the video was "doctored", as reported by news agency PTI.
TMC Attacks Adhir Over Edited Video
Hitting back at Adhir Ranjan over the purported video, the TMC called the Congress leader member of BJP's 'B-Team'.
"After acting as eyes & ears of @BJP4India in Bengal, @adhirrcinc 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 & deprived our people of their rights. Only a Bangla-Birodhi can campaign for the BJP, which has repeatedly insulted Bengal's icons. On May 13, people of Baharampur will give a befitting response to this betrayal!," the TMC said on X.
The West Bengal Congress unit termed it as doctored and officially complained to the EC, seeking intervention and appropriate penal action.
According to fact-checking website Newschecker, the video was found edited. The West Bengal Congress Committee has already raised a complaint about the viral video.
Commenting on the purported remarks, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the goal of his party is to bring down the numbers of the BJP in West Bengal and that the TMC is part of the INDIA bloc.Earlier in the day, the TMC, upset with Chowdhury's continual criticism and holding him responsible for the breakdown of seat-sharing discussions with Congress in the state, labelled him as anti-Bengal.