Amid INDIA rift, Mallikarjun Kharge dials Mamata Banerjee; Derek O’Brien blames Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
New Delhi, January 25
Tensions in the anti-BJP INDIA bloc continued to simmer on Thursday with the TMC blaming West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for Lok Sabha seat-sharing not working out in the state.
The Congress swung into damage-control mode with party president Mallikarjun Kharge speaking to TMC chief Mamata Banerjee a day after she declared that her party would go it alone in the state.
The phone call was made after Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien said, “Three reasons for the alliance not working in Bengal — Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.”
Derek said INDIA had many detractors but only two — the BJP and Chowdhury — were repeatedly speaking out against the bloc.
“The Congress chief has spoken to Mamata Banerjee today. We will find a way forward,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
He also refuted Mamata’s claims on not being intimated of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entering Bengal on Thursday.
“She had been invited. Mallikarjun Kharge had written a letter to her and also sent her an email…Our leaders Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul want leaders from the TMC to come and participate in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. We especially want CM herself to come…even if that is for 10-15 minutes,” Jairam said.
Adhir has refused TMC’s offer of accepting two of the 42 LS seats in the state to contest and has repeatedly questioned Mamata’s trustworthiness, besides calling her an “opportunist”.
