Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has criticised West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari over what he described as the use of state power against Opposition parties and their candidates.
Speaking amid heightened political activity ahead of the upcoming Assembly bypolls in West Bengal, Chowdhury alleged that Adhikari was targeting Opposition parties in a manner similar to what he alleged had happened during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as chief minister.
Chowdhury told The Economic Times that the conduct of the current ruling establishment towards Opposition parties and candidates reminded him of the political methods he attributed to the previous Trinamool Congress government. He alleged that Adhikari had adopted a similar approach towards political opponents. These statements are Chowdhury’s allegations and represent his political assessment of the situation.
The remarks come against the backdrop of developments surrounding two West Bengal Assembly bypolls. Political tensions have increased in the state following changes in candidate positions and disagreements between the BJP, TMC and Congress.
One of the major developments has taken place in Nandigram. The TMC faction led by Mamata Banerjee withdrew its candidate from the bypoll and subsequently announced support for the Congress candidate, Milan Pradhan. The development came shortly before Pradhan was arrested in connection with a 2007 murder case.
The arrest triggered criticism from Congress and the Mamata-led TMC faction. Both parties questioned the timing of the arrest and alleged political interference. Those allegations have been disputed and remain part of the political debate surrounding the bypoll.
Chowdhury referred to the Nandigram development while arguing that the Congress had continued its electoral campaign despite the difficulties faced by its candidates. He also referred to the Congress candidate in Rejinagar as another example of the party continuing its electoral contest.
According to Chowdhury, the Congress remains engaged in contesting the BJP in the upcoming bypolls. He contrasted this with what he described as changes in the position of TMC candidates during the election process.
The Congress leader also criticised what he described as the use of state machinery against Opposition parties. He alleged that the current government was using its authority against political opponents. The BJP or the West Bengal government’s response to these specific allegations should be considered separately from Chowdhury’s claims.
The political dispute also involves the relationship between the Congress and the TMC. Although both parties are associated with the INDIA bloc at the national level, their relationship in West Bengal has remained complicated. The two parties have frequently taken different positions in the state.
Mamata Banerjee’s decision to support the Congress candidate in Nandigram has added another dimension to the political developments surrounding the bypoll. According to Chowdhury, the decision followed the withdrawal of the TMC faction’s own candidate from the contest.
Chowdhury also connected the current political situation with the ongoing dispute over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal. He is among the petitioners who have challenged aspects of the revision process before the Supreme Court.
The Congress leader argued that observations made by the Supreme Court and the West Bengal High Court regarding the handling of appeals by voters whose names were removed from electoral rolls raised questions about the implementation of the revision process. These comments form part of Chowdhury’s criticism of the Election Commission and the electoral roll revision exercise.
The Special Intensive Revision has become a significant political and legal issue in West Bengal. Political parties have expressed differing views over the process, while legal proceedings concerning electoral roll revisions continue.
The latest political confrontation is therefore taking place on several fronts, including the Assembly bypolls, electoral roll revision and the relationship between the Congress and TMC.
For the Congress, the upcoming bypolls provide an opportunity to contest directly against the BJP while maintaining its position in the state’s Opposition politics. For the TMC, the candidate-related developments in Nandigram have become part of the wider political debate over its strategy in the bypolls.
For the BJP and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Congress allegations form part of the broader political contest in the state. Chowdhury’s remarks have not independently established that state machinery was used against Opposition parties; they remain allegations made by a senior Congress leader.
The developments in Nandigram and Rejinagar are expected to remain closely watched as the bypoll process continues. The political contest has also drawn attention because of the changing positions of the parties and the continuing disagreements between the Congress, TMC and BJP.
As the election process moves forward, the actions of candidates, political parties and election authorities will remain under scrutiny. Any allegations concerning misuse of government machinery or interference in the electoral process will ultimately depend on evidence, official findings and decisions by the competent authorities.