Did Adhir Chowdhury ask people to vote for BJP? Clipped video falsely shared by TMC, Amit Malviya

A clip of Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury purportedly asking people to vote for the BJP instead of the Trinamool Congress is viral on social media. Several influential users have tweeted the video, some condemning Chowhdury’s words, some urging people to listen to him.

For instance, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said, “Listen to him, Bengal.”

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury knows exactly how bad the situation in West Bengal, under Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, is. He wishes well for his home state.

Listen to him, Bengal. pic.twitter.com/4psl0vnY3X

— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) May 1, 2024

On the other hand, the official handle of the All India Trinamool Congress tweeted the video saying Chowdhury was campaigning for and openly asking people to vote for the BJP.

After acting as eyes & ears of @BJP4India in Bengal, @adhirrcinc has now been promoted to be the voice of the BJP in Bengal.

Listen to how the B-Team member is openly asking people to vote for the BJP – a party that REFUSED to release Bengal’s rightful due & deprived our people… pic.twitter.com/yVJg7EU7KR

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 1, 2024

Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale shared a similar tweet. He said, “…Congress Bengal chief @adhirrcinc publicly asks people in his rally to vote for the BJP & not the TMC…”

Finally – from the B-team horse’s mouth!

Congress Bengal chief @adhirrcinc publicly asks people in his rally to vote for the BJP & not the TMC.

While Mamata Banerjee fights against the full might of Modi+Central Agencies machinery, Bengal Congress is openly asking votes for… pic.twitter.com/9V4dny7Qeb

— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) May 1, 2024

Senior editor of CNN News 18 Pallavi Ghosh also tweeted the same video and asked, “… where does this leave the national india alliance?”

Battle for behrampore – @adhirrcinc says better to vote for BJP than the tmc – where does this leave the national india alliance – ? pic.twitter.com/ScJtH6mpCm

— pallavi ghosh (@_pallavighosh) May 1, 2024

Propaganda website OpIndia published a report on this video with the title, “‘Why vote TMC, better to vote for BJP’: Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in a public event in West Bengal’s Berhampore”. The report subsequently read, “Why to vote for TMC, better to vote for the BJP,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reputedly said in Bengali during his speech in Behrampore, a video of which has surfaced online.”

Fact Check

The official Facebook account of the Indian National Congress West Bengal streamed the entire speech. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury addresed a public meeting in support of Left Front-backed Congress candidate Murtaza Hossain (Bakul) at Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency in Lalgola, Murshidabad, on April 30.

The post contains a longer version of the viral clip where Chowdhury states that Modi has already lost 100 seats and is progressively losing more seats, despite their campaign slogan being ‘Ab ki Baar 400 paar’. He then emphasizes why more voters should vote for Congress, to reduce the communal divide. He is then heard saying, “It better to vote for the BJP than to vote for Trinamool”. Then he adds, “Do not vote for the TMC, do not vote for the BJP. Always, all round the year, through the ups and downs, Bakul (Mortaza Hossain) shall be with you all. So please support Bakul.”

Referring to the viral claims on social media, the page claimed that it was a ‘conspiracy’ by the Trinamool IT cell which had circulated a clipped video of Chowdhury’s speech. The post added that the party would be taking legal actions against the ‘despicable attempts by the TMC’.

Hence, a clipped video of West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s speech is being shared with the false claim that he asked for votes in favour of the BJP. The longer version of the video show Chowdhury urging his voters to vote for neither the Trinamool Congress, nor the BJP, but for the Left-backed Congress candidate.