Riled by TMC choice, Adhir says Pathan could have been sent to Rajya Sabha

KOLKATA: This was perhaps one googly Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wasn't prepared for. The Congress heavyweight from Behrampore, who has been representing Lok Sabha seat since 1999, would have least expected TMC to parachute a retired cricketer from western part of the country into his citadel.

Although Congress hasn't announced its Behrampore candidate yet, Chowdhury is expected to contest the seat he has held for five terms.

Yusuf Pathan, a Gujarati Pathan from Vadodara, had so far shown no political ambition. MP Abhishek Banerjee announcing his name at a rally was more of a message to Congress than anything else. The World Cup-winning all-rounder was quick to thank the Trinamool chief. "I am eternally grateful to @MamataOfficial (Mamata Banerjee) for welcoming me into the TMC family and trusting me with the responsibility to become the people's voice in Parliament," he wrote on X.


Chowdhury seemed riled by TMC's choice. "If the intent was to give respect and recognition to Pathan, he could have been nominated to Rajya Sabha...Mamata's talk and actions on INDIA bloc are contradictory."