Didn't become minister by washing Mamata's sari: Cong leader

Kolkata, July 23: The verbal slur in West Bengal politics refuses to die down. While the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) started targetting the opposition parties first, it was an opportunity for the Congress to return the favour on Monday.

Speaking to a Bengali news channel, Union minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a party strongman from Murshidabad district of West Bengal, slammed the state government, saying he did not become the minister by washing TMC supremo and state chief minister Mamata Banerjee's sari.

Chowdhury, the Minister of State for the Railways, said this when one of the journalists present on the show told him that he was being accused of having a criminal background. Chowdhury said whether criminal background or not, the fact is that he is a minister and he did not become a minister because of Banerjee's favour.

In Coochbehar

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee addresses an election campaign rally at Mathbhanga in Coochbehar district of West Bengal.

In Birbhum

Voters arrive on a modified motorcycle to cast their votes at a polling booth during 4th phase of Panchayat polls at Dhultikuri in Birbhum district of West Bengal.

In Murshidabad

Injured persons being treated at a hospital after political clashes during panchayat polls, in Murshidabad.

In Birbhum

Police personnel on their way to polling booths on the eve of 4th phase of Panchayat elections at Bolpur in Birbhum district of West Bengal.

In Howrah

Women stand in a queue to cast their vote at a polling station during 3rd phase of Panchayat polls at Howrah district in West Bengal.

In Birbhum

Police personnel patrolling in the Khanpur Village under Chatra Gram Panchayat after a violent clash between the two groups of party inconsequence of Panchayat election, in in Birbhum district of West Bengal on Tuesday.

In Beldanga

aramilitary jawans arrest miscreants after bombing and violence during the fourth phase of the panchayat elections at Kajisha village in Beldanga, Murshidabad, West Bengal.

The Congress MP from Behrampore alleged that the TMC and Left Front, although were fighting each other at other parts of the state, but they joined hands to corner the Congress in Murshidabad. The Left participant who was present on the show rubbished such claims.

Another member, a professor who is known to be a TMC supporter, also refuted Chowdhury's claims and said the latter wasn't behaving responsibly as a central minister should do. This he said after Chowdhury dared the state administration, asking whether it had in it to arrest him on grounds of trying to tamper with the electoral process in the district. West Bengal is witnessing a blood-stained panchayat election.

Murshidabad, along with Birbhum, Nadia and Malda went to the panchayat elections in the fourth phase on Monday. Seven persons were killed in the violence that marred the phase.

OneIndia News