Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s reaction is interpreted as a cold shoulder response to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s statement that her party will support Congress where it is strong but “it should not fight against her in Bengal”. Chowdhury also slammed Bengal CM for ignoring Rahul Gandhi.
Updated May 16, 2023 | 06:31 AM IST
Congress slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for ignoring Rahul Gandhi after the Karnataka victory.
Photo : ANI
Chowdhury’s reaction is interpreted as a cold shoulder response to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s statement that her party will support Congress where it is strong but “it should not fight against her in Bengal”.
Responding to her statement Chowdhury said, “We will definitely fight elections; we will fight wherever it is needed.”
Chowdhury further accused Mamata Banerjee of making such statements following his party’s victory in Karnataka. Mamata feels that without aligning with Congress, she will not be able to survive, Chowdhury said.
“With Congress victory, Mamata Banerjee now feels that she will not be able to work at any cost without doing compromise with Congress. Ahead of the Karnataka elections, have you ever heard Mamata Banerjee saying, vote for Congress to defeat BJP? She is the same Mamata Banerjee who visited Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to support those who are fighting against BJP, but why did not she visit Karnataka to support Congress?” questioned Chowdhury.
On Monday, Mamata Banerjee said that the parties which are strong in a region should fight together and if she is supporting Congress in states such as Karnataka, “it should not fight against me in Bengal”.
“I think whoever is strong in a particular region, should fight together. In Bengal, we (TMC) should fight…in Delhi, AAP should fight,” Mamata Banerjee said.
She said Congress was strong on about 200 Lok Sabha seats and the party was willing to extend support there. “In Bihar, Nitishji, Tejashwi, some part Congress is there, they will decide, I cannot decide on their formula. Wherever the regional party is very strong, so you see…Bihar, Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chennai, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Punjab, the strong party must be given priority. Wherever Congress is strong in their respective 200 seats or something. Let them fight, we will give support, nothing is wrong (in that). But they (Congress) have to support the other political parties also. I am giving you support in Karnataka. But, you are fighting against me every day – it should not be the policy,” she said.
