Mamata Banerjee’s Response to Congress Leader’s “Vote For BJP” Video

The alleged video clip of a Congress leader suggesting it’s better to vote for the BJP than the TMC has sparked controversy. This has caused tension with the Trinamool, an ally in the big-tent Opposition bloc INDIA. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, for his statement, implying that it lacks ideology and ideals. The authenticity of the video clip has not been independently verified by NDTV.

The Congress has dismissed the video as “doctored” and has requested assistance from the Election Commission to investigate the matter. The goal of the Congress party is emphasized as bringing down the BJP’s numbers in Bengal, where the Trinamool is part of the INDIA bloc. However, the two parties are not in alliance in the state. The Trinamool has held Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accountable for the breakdown of seat-sharing discussions with the Congress in the state.

They have accused him of being the “voice of the BJP in Bengal” after allegedly acting as the “eyes and ears of BJP in Bengal,” according to a post by the Trinamool. Abhishek Banerjee, the No. 2 in the Trinamool party, accused Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of obstructing the formation of the opposition INDIA bloc in the state and strengthening the hands of the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool secured 22 out of 42 seats in the state, the BJP 17, and the Congress won two seats.