Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 28 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday criticised Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saayoni Ghosh, accusing her of making remarks that allegedly insult Sikh and Punjabi communities.
The controversy stems from a video shared by the West Bengal BJP on its official X account. In the clip, Ghosh is seen commenting, "Chaddha can become Chaddi", directed at Raghav Chadha, following his reported move from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP earlier this week, during an interview with a local news outlet.
The BJP alleged that the remark was offensive to Sikh and Punjabi communities and urged voters to take note of such statements ahead of the April 29 polling date, framing the issue as part of a broader political appeal.
"TMC MP Sayoni Ghosh said: "Chaddha can become Chaddi" to insult Sikhs and Punjabis. Remember these open insults before you vote on April 29th. Year round they insult you and your community, and right before elections they turn up for votes! To save the true and inclusive spirit of West Bengal," the 'X' post said.
Following halt of campaigning for second phase of West Bengal elections, voting for the remaining 142 seats in West Bengal will take place on April 29. The state recorded a voter turnout of 93.2 per cent in the first phase of polling, a record-breaking figure that has led both the TMC and BJP to claim electoral advantage.
The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies. The results will be declared on May 4, along with Assam, Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Meanwhile, the trio of MPs--Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal--parted ways with the AAP on Friday and subsequently joined the BJP in the presence of party leadership. Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Singh Sahney and Swati Maliwal had also switched to the BJP.
The BJP's strength in the Rajya Sabha increased to 113 after Chairman CP Radhakrishnan approved the merger of Raghav Chadha and six other MPs who quit the AAP.
Losing two-thirds of its MPs has been a big setback for the AAP, which is now reduced to a strength of three members in the Upper House of Parliament.