Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury fumes at 2-seat offer, TMC hits back

KOLKATA: Accusing Congress of “doublespeak”, Trinamool Congress said on Thursday it would give Congress leaders “a few more days” to clear the air on seat-sharing in Bengal.

TMC also urged the Congress brass “to introspect” on why Bengal Congress leaders were attacking CM Mamata Banerjee at a time she was trying to “strengthen” Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in their fight against BJP.

The TMC statement came on the day Bengal Congress president Adhir Chowdhury attacked Banerjee and said he was ready to go ahead with the Left as alliance partners.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Chowdhury said, “The true face of Mamata Banerjee is out. They (TMC) are saying they are ready to give us two seats in Bengal. The seats in question are already with us. Both constituencies elected Congress MPs. So what new thing are they giving us? We won the seats, de feating TMC and BJP. Are they doing us a favour? Who will trust her (Mamata) with seat allotment? It is Mamata who needs Congress to win, not the other way around.” Chowdhury added: “The final decision on an alliance will be taken by the party high command. It will also decide whether AISF will be acceptable as an ally.”

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “Adhir speaks BJP’s tongue. We have been saying this for long. What is most important now? Defeating BJP. TMC fought and defeated BJP in 2021. CM Mamata Banerjee is a third-time CM and Adhir got zero (seats). Adhir attacks TMC to appease BJP. Let Congress leadership introspect. Why this political doublespeak? Prioritising BJP’s defeat, CM Banerjee is trying to help Sonia-ji and Rahul-ji. She is integral to this alliance. Yet, Bengal Congress leaders are repeatedly attacking our leader. They are batting for BJP to appease them.”