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TMC Shares Video of BJP Leader Challenging Own Party’s Candidate in West Bengal

Kalyani Jha
29 Mar, 2024

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) recently circulated a video depicting an intriguing challenge within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. In the video, Chandan Mondal, Tamluk’s BJP District General Secretary, can be heard asserting, “We pledge to defeat Abhijit Gangopadhyay by a margin exceeding 2 lakh votes.”

The focal point of this challenge is Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former Calcutta High Court judge who recently joined the BJP and is now contesting from the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat. Gangopadhyay’s decision to step into the political arena stems from his commitment to combat what he perceives as “injustice” and “corruption” entrenched within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The Tamluk Lok Sabha seat has long been a bastion of the TMC, which has retained its hold on this constituency since the 2009 elections. Even in the face of Gangopadhyay’s entry into the fray, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee exuded confidence, stating unequivocally, “Will defeat you in polls no matter from where you contest.”

However, Gangopadhyay found himself embroiled in controversy after a video clip surfaced where he was allegedly heard mentioning the “death knell of Mamata Banerjee,” implying a symbolic end to her political influence. While the BJP clarified that Gangopadhyay referred to the “political death of the TMC,” the TMC interpreted his words as a veiled wish for the Chief Minister’s demise.

Reacting to the video, TMC leader and West Bengal minister Shashi Panja strongly condemned Gangopadhyay’s remarks. She asserted, “(BJP leader) Abhijit Gangopadhyay, you should be ashamed of yourself. Your (BJP) DNA is bad. You want Mamata Banerjee to die but the people of West Bengal have kept her alive. Whether it’s you or (BJP leader) Dilip Ghosh, what you all are doing will get to the notice of the Election Commission.”

The circulation of this video underscores the intensifying political landscape in West Bengal, setting the stage for a fiercely contested Lok Sabha election battle in the Tamluk constituency.