West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday targeted former President and veteran Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, while campaigning for the Trinamool Congress candidate from Jangipur in Murshidabad district.

Referring to Mr. Mukherjee’s visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters, Ms. Banerjee claimed that the RSS was working for the victory of Mr. Mukherjee’s son Abhijit, who is contesting from Jangipur as a Congress candidate. “The father went to RSS office and the pracharaks are working for his son,” she said.

Her remarks has come as a surprise to many as she has often showered praise on Mr. Mukherjee.

“Voting for the Congress or the CPI(M) will mean voting for the BJP,” Ms. Banerjee said at the rally.

This is not the first time the Chief Minister had targeted the Congress and urged people not to vote for the party. Ms. Banerjee has often been accusing the Congress and the Left of helping the BJP in West Bengal.

Reacting to her remarks, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Ms. Banerjee knew best that the RSS has no presence in Murshidabad district. “She is making these statements to confuse the Muslim voters of Murshidabad, who have traditionally voted for the Congress in the district,” Mr. Chowdhury said.