Murshidabad: Did Congress Sacrifice Adhir Ranjan At The Altar Of Coalition Dharma?

Last Updated:April 22, 2025, 10:56 IST

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is handicapped by his party’s confused state which does not want to alienate Mamata Banerjee and the INDIA bloc

The Murshidabad violence issue could have helped Chowdhury make the point that Mamata Banerjee cannot be trusted to keep Bengal safe. (PTI)

Simmering in the aftermath of communal clashes, Murshidabad today offers a political opportunity for both the BJP and the Congress. While the BJP can make the point that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has failed to maintain law and order in the state and keep Hindus safe, the Congress—which has been eased out of what was once its bastion—possibly has a chance for revival.

The revival could come especially for Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was the undisputed king of Berhampore, which falls in Murshidabad, from 1999 to 2024. His bastion, however, crumbled when Yusuf Pathan became the TMC MP from the seat.

Chowdhury is as much of a fighter as Mamata Banerjee. At a time when the Congress dithered over its response to the chief minister, Chowdhury was open about the fact that Bengal can progress only when the TMC chief is ousted. It was this determination to get rid of Banerjee that made him convince Rahul Gandhi that an alliance with the Left in Bengal would be prudent. Banerjee has always held this against Chowdhury. And that’s why, this time in 2024, she was clear that she won’t allow any soft fight in Berhampore and the TMC would have to win.

But what is baffling is why the fighter in the Congress is not fighting on the streets of Murshidabad. This is a golden chance for Chowdhury and the Congress. Technically, Berhampore was safer during the violence. Yet, it’s an issue which could have helped him make the point that Banerjee cannot be trusted to keep Bengal safe.

The problem is that Chowdhury is handicapped by his party’s confused state. In the middle of Lok Sabha polls, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge had snubbed Chowdhury at a press conference for his attacks on the TMC. It was a slight that sullied and cast a shadow over the fighter Adhir or ‘Robinhood’ as he is often called.

On the Murshidabad issue, while Congress held some protests, it has been muted and mellow. Though Chowdhury raised his voice and asked for President’s Rule, he wasn’t loud enough. The Congress, not wanting to alienate Banerjee and the INDIA bloc and give a handle to the BJP, seems to have made Chowdhury the sacrificial lamb.

Murshidabad, India, India

News politics Murshidabad: Did Congress Sacrifice Adhir Ranjan At The Altar Of Coalition Dharma?