'Bengal Cong wants to fight alone in state polls'

Kolkata: Former West Bengal Congress president Manas Bhuniya today said that during the recent meeting with Congress' central observer CP Joshi, the state party leaders have made it clear that the party wants to go alone in next year's Assembly polls.

"The state leaders have told Joshiji that the party wants to fight alone in Bengal in the next polls. The leaders have made it clear that the party doesn't want to sacrifice its interests by aligning with other parties," Bhuniya said.

Time and again, a section of state Congress leadership had accused the central leadership of forcing the state unit to align with the Trinamool Congress in 2009 and 2011 by sacrificing the interests of the party.

Meanwhile, senior state Congress leader Abdul Mannan, who has been vocal about forging an alliance with the CPI(M) to oust the TMC in Bengal, today expressed his displeasure with Joshi by saying the party's central observer was neglecting Bengal.

"He is neglecting Bengal, without any proper idea about Bengal politics," Mannan said adding, after taking charge as party's observer for the state, Joshi has not been able to revive the party in the state.