It’s Congress vs Congress over Bengal alliance plans, state chief says ‘some helping BJP’

Bengal Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury says party approved tie-up with Left and it's the Left that brought ISF as a constituent, hits out at Anand Sharma for 'sabotaging' party’s prospects in the state.

Anand Sharma (left) and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury | Twitter/wikimedia commons

Kolkata: West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Tuesday lashed out at a section of party leaders, including veteran Anand Sharma, saying they are “out to sabotage the Congress in West Bengal and help the BJP”.

Chowdhury was responding to charges by Sharma that he was endorsing communal outfits such as the Indian Secular Front (ISF) led by the Muslim cleric Abbas Siddiqui.

In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, Chowdhury said that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had approved his decision to be in an alliance with the Left Front that, he added, had inducted the ISF as a constituent. He further said Abbas Siddiqui belongs to a religious family and is not a “descendent of Bin Laden”.

“Some Congress leaders are behaving like the Trinamool and BJP to discredit the Congress,” Chowdhury said.

He also insisted that that the Congress’ alliance is with the Left Front and that it is the Left parties that are allocating their share of seats to the ISF.

“We are in alliance with the Left Front. I have never spoken to Abbas and I don’t know him well,” he said. “I have made my point clear to them saying the Congress will field candidates in 92 seats spread over Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, Dinajpur and some parts of south Bengal. We will not share seats in these areas.”

On Siddiqui wanting to contest in some Muslim-dominated seats of Malda and Murshidabad districts, Chowdhury said, “If ISF fields their candidates in a seat where we are contesting, it is the Left party’s responsibility. They have brought him in and they will deal with him. It is not my concern.”

Congress vs Congress over ISF

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma had triggered a controversy Monday after tweeting about the alliance between the Congress and ISF.

“Congress cannot be selective in fighting communalists but must do so in all its manifestations, irrespective of religion and colour,” he tweeted.

Congress’ alliance with parties like ISF and other such forces militates against the core ideology of the party and Gandhian and Nehruvian secularism, which forms the soul of the party. These issues need to be approved by the CWC.

— Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) March 1, 2021

Responding to Sharma’s tweet, Jitin Prasada, who is the party in-charge of West Bengal responded, “Alliance decisions are taken keeping in mind the best interests of the party and the workers.”

Alliance decisions are taken keeping in mind the best interests of the party and the workers. Now is the time for everyone to join hands and work towards strengthening the prospects of the Congress in the poll bound states. @INCIndia @rssurjewala @adhirrcinc @AnandSharmaINC

— Jitin Prasada जितिन प्रसाद (@JitinPrasada) March 1, 2021

Chowdhury, however, had reacted even more sharply in a series of tweets, saying some were undermining the party ahead of elections in the state.

“Those who are committed to fight against BJP’s venomous communalism, should support the Congress and campaign for the party in five states rather than attempting to undermine the party by remarks in tune with BJP’s agenda,” he tweeted.

“Party’s high command and senior members of AICC are well aware of the political developments in West Bengal. The decision was taken to shield the political interest of Congress,” he added. “Moreover, we have not joined hands with ISF. they are just a small constituent in the alliance. There are several such parties.”

Know ur facts @AnandSharmaINC ji

1. CPI(M) led Left Front is leading the secular alliance in West Bengal of which Congress is an integral part. We are determined to defeat BJP's communal & divisive politics and an autocratic regime.
1/4

— Adhir Chowdhury (@adhirrcinc) March 1, 2021

Uneasy ties with the ISF

For all of Chowdhury’s defence of the alliance, the Congress and the ISF share uneasy ties.

That was evident during a joint rally by the Left and Congress at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade ground on 28 February. Siddiqui was invited by the Left parties to join the rally and only reached the venue when Chowdhury was addressing the gathering.

There was huge cheer for Siddiqui and Chowdhury, visibly upset, had to pause midway before continuing with his speech.

When his turn came, Siddiqui said he would not field candidates where the Left parties are likely to contest. “I mentioned the Left parties but not Congress,” Siddiqui said. “You want to know why? It is because we want bhagidari (equal share) for backward classes, Dalits, Tribals and Muslims. We do not want appeasement or alms.”

On Tuesday, Chowdhury said Siddiqui’s remarks were “unfortunate”. “It should not have happened the way it happened at the Brigade ground. It was our first joint rally,” he said.

There is also a divide in the state Congress over the ties.

“We should not have entered into such an alliance. This type of alliance may push our Hindu voters to BJP. It will only help the BJP,” a senior Congress leader, requesting anonymity, said.

Manoj Chakrabroty, a Congress MLA, however said the state unit was right behind its chief’s decision. “We will not go back on our word. We will remain in the alliance as our PCC chief committed,” he said. “The leaders, who are making such comments have zero idea about the ground reality.”

CPI(M)’s politburo member Mohammad Salim said all points of contention were being addressed. “We are stitching the alliance and trying to iron out differences of opinion. It is a slow process, but we are at it,” he said.

Even the ISF said that talks are still ongoing over the alliance. “We are holding a series of meetings to have clear ideas on the seats we will get. The process is still on,” said Naushad Siddiqui, the brother of Abbas Siddiqui.