PCC chiefs and CLP leaders from West Bengal, Orissa,

Maharashtra and other states had demanded clarity on the issue of alliances amid concerns that regional parties were taking away the Congress space. West Bengal PCC chief Pradeep Bhattacharya batted for Congress going it alone in West Bengal, remaining equidistant from both Trinamool Congress and CPI. "We should contest the upcoming panchayat polls in the state alone. Our previous alliance with Trinamool Congress has damaged the party while Mamata Banerjee's party benefited by aligning with us," he said. He also claimed that though CPI(M) "is keen for an alliance with the Congress, we should avoid it as it will prove detrimental to Congress' interests". Hitting out at former ally Trinamool, which parted ways with Congress last year, Bhattacharya alleged that there was "complete lawlessness in West Bengal and Congress workers were being prosecuted". Responding to it, Gandhi said he should strengthen the organisation there and agreed to his proposal for one to one discussion on the issue. Uttar Pradesh CLP leader Pradeep Mathur said that there is a need to examine at what cost the Congress should be ready to forge alliances. "What is the benefit of forging alliances where regional parties are finishing us," he asked. This was a concern expressed even at the party's Chintan Shivir in Jaipur last month. On issues related to Madhya Pradesh which were raised at the interaction with Gandhi, PCC chief Kantilal Bhuria today said that it is not a matter of complaint but "the facts" should be put out if such a meeting is held. He was asked about his comments against Union Ministers Kamlanath and Jyotiradiya Scindia, who hail from the state. "I asked Rahul Gandhi to advise them to attend the meeting of the Coordination Committee. Ministers should attend the meeting of the Coordination Committee. Ministers should take out time for the organisation. Rahul ji said that any minister visiting the state must inform the PCC," Bhuria said after the meeting. A coordination committee of Congress has been constituted for the state Assembly polls scheduled this year. UPPCC chief Nirmal Khatri struck an introspective note saying "there is a need to put our house in order in UP. Why we are not getting the support of masses despite having heritage, ideology and leaders at central level".