Kolkata: West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury dominated out the chance of extending assist to the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC or in search of her assist in case the high-octane meeting elections throw up a fractured mandate.
Accusing the chief minister of making an attempt to communalise the elections, Chowdhury stated that the TMC and the BJP would possibly be part of palms if each the events fall quick of the requisite numbers to type the federal government.
“BJP and communal politics have discovered a foothold in West Bengal as a result of of Mamata Banerjee. There is no query of supporting the TMC in a post-poll situation if it falls quick of a majority.
“Similarly, there are zero chances of the Congress- Left-ISF Sanjukta Morcha or United Front alliance seeking her support to form the government. There is no possibility of any post-poll tie-up with the TMC,” Chowdhury advised PTI in an interview.
When requested whether or not the Congress and Left’s refusal to increase assist to the TMC will assist the BJP, the two-time state Congress chief stated, “In such a scenario, you will see the TMC and the BJP joining hands to form the government.”
“Just like old wine tastes better, old friends are also trustworthy. The TMC and the BJP, who were earlier alliance partners, will join hands. They are like two sides of a coin,” he stated.
Chowdhury, nonetheless, mocked Banerjee for “surrendering” earlier than Congress president Sonia Gandhi by way of her letter in search of the assist of all of the opposition events.
“Mamata Banerjee had deliberately destroyed the Congress in West Bengal in the last 10 years despite the grand old party helping her come to power. Now see the irony, she has become so nervous that she surrendered before the same Congress, which she tried to finish off politically,” he stated.
The TMC had joined palms with the Congress to oust the Left Front from energy in 2011. However, the alliance fell aside after coming to energy.
“The Congress leadership is well aware of the political character of the TMC. Earlier the TMC had called the Congress a spent force, but now it is begging before us,” he stated.
Terming Banerjee the “biggest and most-trusted ally” of RSS-BJP, Chowdhury stated her celebration lacks the credibility as an anti-BJP power and time has come to bid farewell to TMC’s “misrule”.
“Sanjukta Morcha is fighting the elections to win it and form the next government. We are not here to play second fiddle to anyone. The credibility of the TMC as an anti-BJP force is completely zero. The BJP, on the other hand, is inducting corrupt leaders and is a communal force,” he stated.
Expressing happiness over the “massive response” that the Sanjukta Morcha is getting throughout campaigning, Chowdhury stated that regardless of efforts of the TMC and the BJP, a triangular contest is being witnessed within the elections and never a bipolar one, as anticipated by the 2 events.
He accused each the TMC and BJP of taking West Bengal’s political discourse to an “all-time low” by way of a “vitriolic and communal” marketing campaign.
“I have been in politics for a long time. I have never seen the political discourse stooping to such a low level. Such kind of vitriolic and communal campaign by both the TMC and the BJP is against the culture and ethos of West Bengal. Personal attacks are unacceptable,” he stated.
Accusing the TMC of fuelling id and appeasement politics, Chowdhury stated that Banerjee, by way of her feedback that Muslims ought to vote en masse for her celebration “is not only communal but also a reflection of her frustration”.
“She has been doing this for the last 10 years. I fail to understand how a chief minister can make such a comment that goes against the principles of our Constitution. It is shameful and distasteful,” he stated, referring to Banerjee’s feedback at a current election rally that prompted the Election Commission to situation her a discover.
Chowdhury, the five-time MP from the Berhampore Lok Sabha seat, claimed that the Sanjukta Morcha is combating the elections to carry the state out of the “dark days” of the TMC rule and take it to a “new era of development”.
He dismissed allegations each from inside and outdoors that the Congress and Left Front have compromised with communalism by allying with Abbas Siddiqui’s Indian Secular Front (ISF).
“The ISF has publicly stated its policies and principles, and it is no way a communal force. It is a secular party just like ours, and all of us are fighting to save West Bengal from the communal onslaught,” he stated.
He stated the alliance has been stitched properly and prospects of “friendly fights” in some seats are solely “exceptions”.
“Only in one seat, we are having a friendly fight with the Left. In some seats allotted to us, the ISF has expressed the desire to contest the polls. Nothing has been decided yet,” he stated.
Elections for the 294 meeting seats in West Bengal are being held in eight phases. The votes will probably be counted on May 2.
