Taking the protests by Trinamool Congress as a challenge: Adhir

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that he accepted these protests as a challenge and would ensure that Trinamool drew a blank in Murshidabad

Facing repeated protests and ‘go back’ slogans over the past few days allegedly from Trinamool Congress supporters, senior Congress leader and the party’s Baharampur Lok Sabha candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday said that he accepted these protests as a challenge and would ensure that Trinamool drew a blank in Murshidabad district in the Lok Sabha polls.

The vehicle of five five-term Congress MP was surrounded by a mob in the Nowda area of Murshidabad, where a large group of protesters raised ‘go back’ slogans.

This was not the first time Mr. Chowdhury had faced protests while campaigning in his constituency. When encountering a similar protest a few days ago, he was caught on camera pushing a Trinamool supporter away.

“The Trinamool Congress is trying to stall my election meetings. But they will never succeed. I will not be cowed down by the threats of TMC workers,” he said.

Mr. Chowdhury said that he accepted these protests orchestrated by Trinamool Congress as a challenge. “I take this as a challenge, Didi, and will ensure that Trinamool Congress draws a blank in the district,” he said.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has fielded former cricketer Yusuf Pathan against Mr. Chowdhury. Reacting to the Congress MP’s statements, the Trinamool leadership said that he had lost his mind and the support of the people. “Adhir Chowdhury is cornered and has lost his mind,” party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

The Trinamool leadership had named the Congress leader as one of the reasons the two parties could not forge an electoral alliance in West Bengal.