Congress crisis deepens, impending split in CPI(M)?

The party also did not fix any deadline for his resignation. The decision was taken at a high level meeting of the party at Bidhan Bhavan Saturday afternoon. The meeting was presided over by West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Chowdhury.

A letter requesting Bhunia to resign from the post, signed by all the MLAs, will be send to him. A meeting of WBPCC will be held on July 15 where the matter will be taken up again, among other things like chalking out the political programmes of the party.

Bhunia was not present at the meeting. He had said that due to a previous appointment he would be out of town for two days. Chowdhury alleged that making Bhunia the PAC chairman was “a gift of Trinamool Congress.”

He added that TMC was trying to break the alliance between Congress and CPI(M as it faced problems in giving replies to questions raised by the Opposition. “Though the Opposition are fewer in numbers, the legislators are experienced and they are giving enough trouble to the ruling party on the floor of the house,” Chowdhury said.

 He said he had asked Bhunia not to fall into TMC’s trap. Till 11 am, it had been decided that Bhunia would be the chairman of the Assembly’s assurance committee. Bhunia told fellow partyman Manoj Chakraborty that the chairman of the assurance committee did not get an official vehicle and he would be happy if the party had arranged a car for him.

Chowdhury said he had told Chakraborty to tell Bhunia that the party would arrange a car for him. But as the day proceeded, the Speaker announced Bhunia’s name and the drama began. He said the state government had filed a false case against Bhunia and a warrant had been issued against him. The party decided to support him both inside and outside the Assembly.

Chowdhury said CPI(M) had requested him to give the PAC chairman’s post to Sujan Chakraborty. He said the PAC could raise questions regarding financial irregularities of the state government by scrutinising the CAG report.

But the state government is not tabling the report on the floor of the house. He said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had selected the name of Chakraborty and he would inform it about Saturday’s decision. It is for the AICC to take any decision in the matter.