Factionalism in Bengal Congress out in the open

Senior leaders want Pradesh Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury out, dash off to meet Sonia Gandhi

Party leaders in West Bengal have asked Congress President Sonia Gandhi to remove state unit chief, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, accusing him of highhandedness and working against the interests of the party. Former Pradesh Congress chief Manas Bhunia, Rajya Sabha member Pradeep Bhattacharya, Lok Sabha member Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, and former Union minister Deepa Das Munshi are seeking Chowdhury’s removal.

Bhunia on Thursday said Chowdhury had not consulted him before announcing a 12-hour bandh in the state on August 18.Chowdhury was also charged with not allowing Congress supporters from Murshidabad, which has a sizeable Muslim population, to attend the party’s minority convention in Kolkata. Congress leaders in Delhi said all this was unlikely to cut any ice with both Gandhi and her son Rahul backing Chowdhury.

Chowdhury was an asset for the party in the just concluded Parliament session, where he was at the forefront of disruptions in the House.

Chowdhury has also successfully led agitations against the government in West Bengal. Unlike the ageing leaders of the Congress state unit, Chowdhury is seen as young and experienced.

The factionalism is likely to damage the Congress’ prospects in West Bengal when it goes to polls in 2017.