'Mamata Proves She Can't Be Trusted': Adhir Rips Into TMC Supremo Over Yusuf's Candidacy From Cong Stronghold

Yusuf Pathan, hailing from Gujarat, has been fielded by the TMC for Behrampore, currently held by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has maintained a grip on the Lok Sabha seat since 1999.

New Delhi: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury launched a scathing attack on Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee for nominating Yusuf Pathan to contest from the Behrampore Lok Sabha constituency, which has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. Chowdhury suggested that if Banerjee intended to honour Pathan, she should have nominated him for the Rajya Sabha instead.

“If Mamata Banerjee had good intentions for Yusuf Pathan, she would have asked I.N.D.I.A alliance for a seat for him in Gujarat. But here in West Bengal, he is selected as a candidate to polarise the common man and to help the BJP, so that Congress can be defeated,” news agency ANI quoted Chowdhury as saying.

Yusuf Pathan, hailing from Gujarat, has been fielded by the TMC for the Behrampore seat, currently held by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has maintained a grip on the Lok Sabha seat since 1999, having won five consecutive terms. Chowdhury accused the TMC of strategically deploying a candidate in Behrampore to splinter Congress votes and bolster the BJP's prospects.

Expressing his discontent, Chowdhury said that Mamata Banerjee's actions have exposed her untrustworthiness as a political leader, cautioning against placing faith in her by any political party in India.

“Mamata Banerjee has proven today that none of the political parties of India should trust a leader like her. Mamata Banerjee is in fear that if she continues to be in the I.N.D.I.A alliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be unhappy. By separating herself from the alliance, she has sent a message to the PMO, don't be unhappy with me, I am not standing to fight against the BJP,” ANI quoted Chowdhury as saying.

Earlier discussions between the Congress and TMC regarding a potential alliance in West Bengal hit a stumbling block over the issue of seat-sharing. While the TMC proposed two seats, the state unit of Congress demanded 8-9 seats. The strained relationship between Mamata Banerjee and Adhir Chowdhury played a pivotal role in impeding the formation of a coalition.

The unveiling of the 42 candidate names during TMC’s Brigade rally on Sunday put to rest speculations about an alliance between the Mamata-led party and Congress in West Bengal, which encountered obstacles over seat sharing.

The Congress leadership also expressed surprise at the announcement, with General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stating the party's intention to take on the BJP alongside the TMC in West Bengal.