Kolkata: In a virtual revolt against their
party`s decision to enter into an alliance with Trinamool
Congress at the latter`s term, state Congress leaders from
North Dinajpur, Murshidabad and Nadia said they were not in
favour of giving seats to Trinamool in those districts.
"We have to show respect to the feelings of Congress
workers. They are not happy. We are convening a meeting of
district leaders tomorrow and will take a decision after
discussing with them," Congress MP from North Dinajpur
district Deepa Dasmunshi said immediately after the
announcement of the seat-sharing deal with Trinamool.
She told a TV channel that the party had taken the
decision, but the overall feeling was that the Congress should
not leave any seat to Trinamool in North Dinajpur district
where it had the strength to contest for all the seats.
Equally critical is Congress strongman from Murshidabad
district Adhir Chowdhury who ruled out campaigning for
Trinamool candidates. "Other leaders may do it, but I will
not campaign for Trinamool candidates," Chowdhury, an MP from
Behrampore, told the channel.
Congress leader from Nadia Shankar Singh was more
forthright. "In one way it can be said that the party
organisation was sold to Trinamool. The leaders who have taken
the decision have not done this keeping in mind the feelings
of Congress workers," he told the channel.
He said the Congress workers cannot accept the decision
and the party has to suffer for this in future.
Ram Payre Ram, a six-time Congress MLA from Kabithirtha
seat in the city, said that the party workers were left
disheartened by the development.
"I am not accepting this alliance in Murshidabad
district," Adhir Chowdhury later said.
Sankar Singh alleged that the deal had inflicted a `blow`
to the Congress workers in the state "which will not be in a
position to accept it".
Senior PCC leader Omprakash Mishra told a TV channel
that resentment expressed by some senior leaders at the
seat-sharing deal was "justified".
"The way the seat-sharing agreement has been finalised,
it will be shocking for Congress workers," he said.
Mishra, however, said now that the deal had been struck
with Trinamool Congress, "we will have to face the electoral
challenge boldly".
PTI
