Abhishek Banerjee Challenges Opposition Leaders in Murshidabad, Raises Questions Over Alleged Links with Centre

Murshidabad, April 2026 : Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday launched a strong political attack on opposition leaders, challenging them to give up their central security cover if they were genuinely committed to fighting for the rights of the people. His remarks were directed at senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former TMC leader Humayun Kabir, and Indian Secular Front (ISF) leader Nausad Siddiqui.

Addressing an election rally in Berhampore, Banerjee said that leaders who claim to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) must demonstrate their sincerity by rejecting security provided by the Union government. “I challenge Adhir Chowdhury, Humayun Kabir, and Naushad Siddiqui—if you are truly fighting for the rights of the people of Bengal, Murshidabad, and Malda against the actions of Amit Shah, then give up the security granted by him. If needed, the state government will provide protection within 24 hours. This is my challenge—show the courage to do it,” Banerjee said.

His remarks come at a time when political tensions are rising in West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections. Banerjee’s statement is being seen as an attempt to question the credibility of opposition leaders and suggest that their actions do not match their public claims.

The TMC leader also raised questions about what he described as a possible understanding between Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He questioned why Chowdhury, who lost his Lok Sabha seat in 2024, has not yet been asked to vacate his government residence in New Delhi.

“What exactly is going on between Adhir Chowdhury and Narendra Modi? He is no longer a Member of Parliament. When someone loses an election, they are required to vacate their official residence. But why has the government not asked him to do so yet? What kind of arrangement is this?” Banerjee asked.

In a strongly worded speech, Banerjee also accused central investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of targeting him and his family. He claimed that multiple members of his family, including his wife, parents, children, and close associates, had been subjected to questioning.

“They spared no one—my wife, my mother, my father, my young children, my personal assistant, and even my lawyer. I received 15 summons from the ED, and I attended each one. I faced them directly. We are not people who bow down before anyone,” he said, portraying himself as standing firm against pressure.

Banerjee further alleged that before the TMC came to power in West Bengal in 2011 under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhir Chowdhury’s network was involved in corruption and intimidation in the Murshidabad region. He contrasted this with the period after 2011, claiming that political violence against opposition workers had reduced significantly.

“I want to address those watching this rally today in Berhampore. I have heard that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has fielded a candidate here. I want to ask my Left colleagues—whom will you support on the 23rd? Adhir Chowdhury?” Banerjee said, highlighting divisions within the opposition.

He also claimed that during the peak of Chowdhury’s influence, workers of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) faced repeated instances of harassment and violence in the district. “After Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011, no leader or worker from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or Congress has faced such treatment,” he added.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a five-time Member of Parliament from Berhampore, has returned to state politics after nearly 25 years, making the current contest particularly significant. In what is being seen as a crucial electoral battle, he is contesting the Berhampore Assembly seat against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Subrata Maitra and TMC candidate Naru Gopal Mukherjee.

The West Bengal Assembly elections will be held in two phases. The first phase is scheduled for April 23 and will cover 152 constituencies across districts such as Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, North and South Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, West Midnapore, West Burdwan, and parts of Birbhum and Nadia. These areas include border districts, tribal regions, tea garden belts, and industrial zones, making them politically diverse and strategically important.

The second phase of polling will take place on April 29 for the remaining 142 constituencies. The counting of votes for all 294 Assembly seats will be conducted on May 4.

The elections are expected to witness a fierce contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in power, and the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is seeking to build on its previous performance and form the government in the state.

Banerjee’s remarks underline the intensity of the political battle in West Bengal, where sharp exchanges, allegations, and direct challenges have become a key feature of the campaign. As the election dates draw closer, the contest is likely to become even more competitive, with each party trying to strengthen its position and influence voters across the state.