Bengal Congress MLAs give declaration they won't leave party

In a seemingly unprecedented move, all newly-elected Congress legislators in West Bengal have given a "written declaration" on stamp paper that they would not leave the party, a party leader said on Tuesday.

The Congress emerged as the main opposition party in the recent Assembly elections bagging 44 seats in the 294-member house.

The members gave the declaration on stamp papers valued at Rs.100.

"All the 44 elected members of the party have taken a unanimous decision that they would not leave the party under any circumstances and indulge in anti-party activities. We have given a written declaration on stamp papers," senior West Bengal Pradesh Congress leader Abdul Mannan told IANS.

No one was forced or directed to give the declaration," said Mannan who was elected from Champdani constituency in Hooghly.

"We have seen in the past that many Congress workers left the party after being elected legislator. The declaration is aimed at preventing such desertions. We will go by the party's decision," he said.

A number of legislators who had won on Congress tickets in the previous assembly, later crossed over to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

--IANS

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