'TMC Dalal': Kharge's Posters Defaced Outside Bengal Congress HQ After Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Rebuffed

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's posters were vandalided with black ink in Kolkata, following his rebuke of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for casting doubts over CM Mamata Banerjee's allegiance to I.N.D.I.A. bloc.

Posters and hoardings of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were found defaced with ink in front of the party's state headquarters in West Bengal, a day after Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was rebuffed for questioning TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's allegiance to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. The incident, which occurred on Saturday night, saw unidentified individuals scrawl 'TMC dalal (agent of Trinamool Congress)' across Kharge's posters and hoardings.

Chowdhury, expressing discontent over the vandalism from his hometown Baharampur, urged party workers to file a police complaint, news agency PTI reported. Sources told PTI that a complaint was registered, and the defaced materials were promptly removed.

"This is the handiwork of the TMC which wants to create differences between senior Congress leaders and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury," alleged a party insider, as quoted by PTI's report.

Kharge Vs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury On Mamata Banerjee's Remark

The disagreement between Chowdhury and Kharge stemmed from Mamata Banerjee's recent statement, where she expressed that if the I.N.D.I.A. bloc forms the government, she would support it from outside. Chowdhury, questioning her loyalty, alleged that she cannot be trusted and that she might go with the BJP. 

He was rebuked by Kharge who asserted, "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." 

The Congress chief asserted that Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is no one to decide whether Mamata would be part of the I.N.D.I.A. in the event of the alliance coming to power after the Lok Sabha polls.

In response to Kharge's remarks, Chowdhury affirmed his commitment to Congress, stating, "I 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."

The TMC in West Bengal is contesting the Lok Sabha elections solo despite being in the Opposition alliance while Congress and the Left have formed a seat-sharing arrangement.