New Delhi, India

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress (INC), made a controversial statement on Tuesday as he said while addressing a gathering in the east Indian state of West Bengal that it is "better" to vote for the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) than the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). 

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During a speech in Bengali language, the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said, "It is necessary for Congress and the Left to win. If they don't, secularism will be at stake. Voting for TMC means voting for the BJP, so it's better to vote for BJP only. Don't vote for BJP, don't vote for TMC." 

Watch the video here: 

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Several BJP leaders shared the video on social media platforms targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla wrote on X, "Even Adhir Da (tallest leader of Congress knows that a vote for TMC is a vote that will harm Bengal) because of TMC policies to defend corrupt syndicate, mafias, blast accused, terrorists & rapists like Shahjahan Shaikh in Sandeshkhali." 

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TMC slammed Chowdhury's comments, saying, "After acting as the eyes and ears of BJP in Bengal, Adhir 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 (sic)." 

It added, "Only a Bangla-Birodhi can campaign for the BJP, which has repeatedly insulted Bengal's icons. On May 13, the people of Behrampur will give a befitting response to this betrayal!" 

Congress reacts to the video 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh responded to a question regarding the video and said he hadn't watched it yet. He said, "I haven't seen the video and don't know in which context he has said this but I want to make it clear that Congress party has just one aim that is to heavily decrease the number of seats of the BJP that it got in 2019." 

The Congress, the Left parties and the TMC are part of the INDI alliance, but there is no seat-sharing between the Congress and TMC in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections. 

(With inputs from agencies)