Why PM needs to visit Bengal frequently, asks state Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury

Kolkata: West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Chowdhury on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s frequent visits to the state for poll campaigns, suggesting that if he was confident about BJP‘s growing support, such repeated trips wouldn’t be necessary. Speaking to reporters in his Lok Sabha constituency Berhampore ahead of Modi’s scheduled visit to Siliguri, Chowdhury wondered why the PM needed to campaign extensively in Bengal if he was buoyed by BJP’s development works at the Centre.

Modi had previously visited southern parts of Bengal on March 1 and 6, including a rally in Barasat near Kolkata, where he criticised the ruling TMC over the Sandeshkhali issue.

Chowdhury drew attention to PM’s ‘Atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) slogan, suggesting that if Modi truly believed in it, he wouldn’t need frequent visits to the state.

Regarding the status of seat sharing between the Congress and its alliance partner Left in the INDIA bloc, Chowdhury acknowledged that preliminary talks had taken place but emphasised that delays were not a cause for concern.

“It takes time for the central leadership of Congress to assess the situation in each state and discuss it with the concerned units before making decisions,” he added.

Chowdhury assured that announcements regarding seat sharing would be made at the appropriate time, indicating that there was no rush and that Congress was prepared for the upcoming elections. He dismissed suggestions that Congress was in talks with parties like TMC, affirming that their stand remained clear.

Chowdhury alleged that the TMC was attacking him on two fronts: politically to weaken him and by spreading false information about his performance as an MP, particularly regarding project implementation under MPLAD.