States » EastPosted at: Nov 4 2026 6:17PM


Bengal: Adhir Chowdhury refuses to soften stand against Mamata Banerjee despite Delhi show of opposition unity

Kolkata, Nov 4 (UNI) Even as former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared "My leader Sonia Gandhi" at the Opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday, former Congress state president and Congress Working Committee member, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, made it clear on Wednesday that he had no intention of abandoning his opposition to the Trinamool Congress leadership.
Speaking at a press conference at the district Congress office in Berhampore, Chowdhury asserted that his political position on Banerjee remained unchanged despite the recent display of bonhomie between the Trinamool Congress and national Congress leaders.
"For the past 15 years, the Congress has been devastated by Trinamool's atrocities. Our organisation was weakened because of the atrocities committed by the Trinamool Congress. These are facts that cannot be denied. Therefore, I am not withdrawing my opposition to Mamata Banerjee," Chowdhury said.
However, he refrained from making any categorical prediction about the future political relationship between the two parties, leaving the matter to the respective leaderships. "I cannot say what will happen in the future. The national leadership will take a decision, and the state leadership is also there. Let us see what happens. I will speak again when the time comes," he added.
Chowdhury has consistently maintained an uncompromising position against Banerjee and her party. Although sections of the Trinamool leadership have occasionally indicated a willingness to adopt a softer approach towards the Congress, the party has rarely shown similar flexibility towards Chowdhury.
However, his 'pond and river' analogy on Opposition unity against the BJP around a year and a half ago had triggered speculation that he might be reconsidering his position towards the Trinamool Congress. Chowdhury subsequently dispelled the ambiguity.
His persistent opposition to Banerjee had also been a significant factor in bringing the Left and Congress closer during the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress-Left understanding, however, failed to withstand the intense political polarisation in the last general election, when Chowdhury lost the Berhampore Lok Sabha seat.
He has repeatedly alleged that the Trinamool Congress brought former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Gujarat to contest against him in Berhampore specifically to consolidate minority votes and defeat him. Chowdhury also contested the 2026 Assembly election from Berhampore but suffered another defeat amid intense electoral polarisation.
Banerjee's appearance alongside national Congress and Left leaders at Sunday's Delhi rally has triggered uncertainty within the Congress and Left ranks in Bengal. State BJP leaders, including minister Agnimitra Paul, had sought to highlight the apparent contradictions in the Opposition's political positioning. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also targeted the Left, Congress and Trinamool Congress together during his visit to Siliguri on Wednesday.
Against this backdrop, Chowdhury's statement has sent an unmistakable message: the Delhi show of Opposition unity has not changed his political assessment of Banerjee.
UNI RC NST CDS
Tags: #Bengal: Adhir Chowdhury refuses to soften stand against Mamata Banerjee despite Delhi show of opposition unity
More News

Odisha must unlock its Bauxite wealth, fast-track pending investments: TCF

04 Nov 2026 | 6:52 PM

Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 (UNI) With neighbouring states stepping up efforts to attract large-scale industrial investments, Odisha must urgently accelerate its mineral-led industrialisation, unlock its vast bauxite reserves and convert pending investment commitments into tangible economic growth and employment opportunities, the Think Change Forum (TCF) has said.

see more..

Odisha influencers showcase state’s heritage at Bharat Parv 2026

04 Nov 2026 | 6:42 PM

Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 (UNI) Ten digital content creators and social media influencers from Odisha are showcasing the State’s rich art, craft and cultural heritage at Bharat Parv 2026, being held at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat from November 1 to 15.

see more..

E-Cabinet to give new momentum to good governance in Bihar: Samrat

04 Nov 2026 | 6:34 PM

Patna, Nov 4 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Wednesday that the implementation of the e-Cabinet system would give fresh momentum to good governance and digital administration in the state. It would make the Cabinet's decision-making process faster, simpler and more transparent while improving coordination among various departments and accelerating the execution of government work.

see more..

‘Badya Pallavi’ captivates audience as three-day ‘Parirambhanam 2026’ festival begins in Bhubaneswar

04 Nov 2026 | 6:31 PM

Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 (UNI) A spellbinding presentation of Odissi dance, ‘Badya Pallavi’, captivated audiences at the inaugural evening of ‘Parirambhanam 2026’, the 16th annual dance and music festival organised by Nrutya Upasana Pitha, which began here on Wednesday amid rain.

see more..

Ziro farmers dispatch over 3,000 bunches of chrysanthemums to Delhi

04 Nov 2026 | 6:28 PM

Itanagar, Oct 4 (UNI) Farmers in Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, have taken a significant step towards expanding commercial floriculture in Arunachal Pradesh, with over 3,000 bunches of locally grown chrysanthemums dispatched to New Delhi.

see more..