Chowdhury claims Kharge's leadership made all posts temporary, including his own
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Former MP and Congress leader from West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, criticized the party’s central leadership, stating that all posts in the party, including his own, became temporary after Mallikarjun Kharge assumed the role of party president.
He also claimed that he was not informed that the party’s leadership had accepted his resignation. Discontent within the party over Chowdhury’s leadership has been simmering for some time due to his outright criticism of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress, amid the Congress party’s efforts to seek cooperation with the TMC.
Chowdhury alleged that Kharge had publicly suggested that Chowdhury might be removed if necessary, a statement that reportedly upset him. He also criticized the party's performance in West Bengal elections, pointing to poor results as evidence of the leadership's failings.
This criticism follows recent comments by AICC General Secretary in-charge of West Bengal, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who stated that Chowdhury had resigned from his position following the Lok Sabha elections.
Mir clarified that the process to appoint a new state unit chief was underway. Chowdhury, however, contested this claim, asserting that he was informed of his resignation status only during a recent meeting. He was reportedly under the impression that he was still the party president until the meeting, where he was referred to as the former president.
Congress General Secretary for Organization, K.C. Venugopal, recently conducted a meeting with senior West Bengal leaders, including Chowdhury. Discussions during this meeting addressed various issues, including the party's strategy and its relationship with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Venugopal mentioned that Chowdhury’s resignation was acknowledged and that the party should focus on strategizing for future elections, particularly the 2026 assembly polls.
Chowdhury has been at odds with the central leadership over the Congress party’s approach to its relationship with the TMC. He has consistently advocated for the Congress to pursue an independent path in West Bengal, opposing any political alliance with the TMC.
His vocal criticism of TMC leader Mamata Banerjee and his insistence on a more aggressive stance in the state have reportedly contributed to tensions between him and the party’s central leadership.