Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Sticks To Mamata Bashing After Kharge Rebuke: 'Trying To Finish Congress In Bengal'

Controversy began when Mamata Banerjee, who has ruled out any truck with I.N.D.I.A bloc members Congress & Left Front in West Bengal, said she would offer outside support if it managed to win polls.

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday took a dig at Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee, saying she was trying to “finish me and my party politically” in the state. 

Chowdhury’s statement came amid a controversy surrounding Mamata Banerjee's stance on the Opposition's I.N.D.I.A bloc. Earlier this week, Mamata Banerjee, who has ruled out any truck with I.N.D.I.A bloc members Congress and the Left Front in West Bengal, said she would offer outside support if the alliance managed to form the government at the Centre.

Chowdhury subsequently said she could not be trusted, adding that she had left the alliance and could go towards the BJP. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge then dismissed his remarks, saying the West Bengal Congress president could not decide whether the TMC leader would join the I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Asked about Kharge’s statement, Chowdhury, who is seeking re-election from Baharampur on a Congress ticket, said, “I cannot speak in favour of someone who wants to finish me politically and our party in Bengal. This is a battle for every Congress worker. I have spoken on their behalf.” 

He said his opposition to Banerjee was based on principle rather than personal interest, “There is no personal grudge but I question her political ethics.”

Chowdhury also alleged that Banerjee had "taken Maoists' help to discredit the Left in Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram, and then abandoned them". He said he didn’t want the state Congress to be used for her personal agenda and then be finished off. 

“If Kharge ji speaks against my views, I will continue to speak for Congressmen at the grassroots in the state," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

When asked about Mamata Banerjee's "outside-support offer" and Chowdhury's subsequent remarks, Kharge told reporters in Mumbai that "Mamata Banerjee is with the alliance". "She has recently said that she will join the government. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary will not take the decision. The decision will be taken by me and the high command. Those who don't agree will go out."