Kolkata (West Bengal): As the internal rift in the Congress party becomes evident in the wake of the party’s poor performance in the Bihar assembly polls, West Bengal state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury cautioned dissenting leaders like Kapil Sibal for criticizing the leadership.
Chowdhury told ETV Bharat that those who are criticizing the party leadership are welcome to quit and form their own party.
“Empty house is always better than an ill tenant. But we cannot encourage those leaders who will continue with Congress and at the same time do something that will benefit Congress’s opponent. ” Chowdhury said.
Chowdhury at the same time said that any possible event of such leaders quitting the party will not harm Congress at all. “Rather this will be good for Congress. Congress will move ahead in West Bengal as well as in the entire country with its dedicated followers. This difference of opinion within Congress will not impact the party’s prospects in the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls next year,” Chowdhury told ETV Bharat.
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Referring to Kapil Sibal, who recently said Congress leadership is refusing to recognize its own problems despite clearly understanding the same, Chowdhury also said that before making such tall claims, the lawyer- turned politician should have made efforts to participate in the party’s campaign programmes in Bihar. “Without participating in such programmes, no one can make such observation publicly,” Chowdhury said.
Asked specifically whether such difference in opinion among the top Congress leaders will impact the morale of the Congress workers in West Bengal before the state assembly polls next year, Chowdhury said that there is no question of negative impact on the morale of Congress workers.
“In Bengal, both the Congress leadership and workers are extremely focused,” he said.
Referring to the recent demand from the Union home minister, Amit Shah said that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should make it clear whether Congress is a part of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in Jammu & Kashmir, Chowdhury said such challenges are baseless.
“The national leadership of Congress has already made its stand clear on this issue. In fact, BJP indirectly promotes terrorism for its own political benefit. Congress never encourages any sort of criminal activities. BJP is now resorting to baseless allegations to cover up their own flaws. We are not taking the Union home minister’s comments seriously,” Chowdhury said.
