“You are changing sides like Nitish Kumar”: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lashes out at Mamata Banerjee

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, claiming that she is changing sides as Nitish Kumar did. “You are doing a palti (switcheroo) just like Nitish Kumar did,” said Chowdhury while addressing a press conference.

“I want to ask you (Mamata Banerjee) why you found the alliance sweet at first but now it seems sour to you. What is the secret behind this? What is the secret behind your ‘Kabhi Haa, Kabhi Naa’ (Sometimes yes, sometimes no)?” said the Baharampur MP.

Earlier on Thursday, Banerjee declared that the Trinamool Congress is “very much a part of the INDIA Alliance” while addressing a rally in Tamluk. On Wednesday she had said she would provide “outside support” to the INDIA Alliance in forming a government at the Centre if it wins, sparking speculations on whether the TMC would exit the INDIA Alliance.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury further called Banerjee an ‘astute and opportunistic politician’. When asked about her recent comment about TMC being a part of the alliance, Chowdhury said, “The statement made by her clearly indicates that the INDIA Alliance is striding ahead and it is on the verge of forming a government… ‘unqualified support’ to INDIA bloc will help her in fighting the elections in West Bengal.”

Despite being a part of the INDIA bloc, seat-sharing talks failed in West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee decided to fight solo in West Bengal. The Congress is in alliance with the CPI(M) in Bengal, an erstwhile rival of the TMC.

Seven out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.​