'It’s better to vote for BJP than TMC': Congress leader Adhir Ranjan in viral video

The Congress party emphasised its primary goal for the upcoming 2024 elections: defeating the BJP. This statement was made in response to claims circulating regarding Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury supposedly suggesting that people should vote for the BJP if they cannot vote for Congress.

The controversy arose from an eight-second video clip from Chowdhury's speech at an election rally in Murshidabad, which was shared by the TMC.

In the purported video, Chowdhury can be heard saying, “This time ‘400 paar’ (BJP’s slogan of the NDA winning 400 seats ) won’t happen... 100 seats have already slipped away from the hands of PM Modi... It is necessary to make Congress and CPI (M) win. If Congress and CPI (M) don’t win, secularism will be under threat. It is better to vote for BJP than to vote for TMC. So, vote for Congress, not for TMC or BJP."



The West Bengal Congress promptly dismissed the clip as "doctored" and lodged a complaint with the Election Commission. Meanwhile, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee accused Chowdhury of acting as a BJP agent, alleging that his actions hindered the possibility of an alliance with the INDIA bloc in Bengal, thereby strengthening the BJP's position.

In a post on X, the TMC said that after acting as "eyes and ears of BJP in Bengal," Chowdhury has now been promoted to be the "voice of the BJP in Bengal." "Listen to how the B-Team member is openly asking people to vote for the BJP – a party that refused to release Bengal's rightful due and deprived our people of their rights. Only a Bangla-Birodhi can campaign for the BJP, which has repeatedly insulted Bengal's icons," the TMC said.

"On May 13, people of Baharampur will give a befitting response to this betrayal!" it added.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale also attacked the Congress leader over the remarks.

"Finally - from the B-team horse's mouth! Congress Bengal chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury publicly asks people in his rally to vote for the BJP and not the TMC. While Mamata Banerjee fights against the full might of Modi+Central Agencies machinery, Bengal Congress is openly asking votes for the BJP," he said in a post on X.

"In Bengal, TMC is INDIA taking on BJP. Meanwhile, Congress and CPM have chosen to become Modi's loyal soldiers. This is disgusting and beyond shameless," he said. Ramesh, meanwhile, said that the only goal of the Congress was to bring down the numbers of BJP in West Bengal.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal addressed the issue, stating, "Going against the party's ideological commitment is unacceptable, and all leaders must avoid making any statements in that direction." The authenticity of the video clip, however, remains unverified.

(With inputs from TOI)