WB Congress hesitant to take CPI-M support

He told reporters that this would be an important issue which would be taken up when he meets the AICC leaders tomorrow or day after. Chowdhury is leaving for the Capital late this evening.

The newly appointed West Bengal Congress chief, who took over from Somen Mitra, said that the WBPCC’s main programme would be to mobilise anti-CPI(M) forces. He said, “We willrejuvenate the organisation in the state.”

Brushing aside the Trinamool Congress charge that the state Congress is a “B team of the CPI(M)”, Chowdhury, a former Union minister, shot back, “You ask the people and they will answer Trinamool Congress’ allegations.”

Chowdhury, who took over as the WBPCC president for the third time, also set aside speculation over his having a working president, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi. He said, “We will work together and revive the party in the state.”

On Dasmunshi’s extending invitation to Mamata Banerjee to rejoin the party, Chowdhury said, “It might be Dasmunshi’s personal opinion, as far as I am concerned, I will go by what the party decides. Any body wanting to rejoin the state Congress has to formally apply and we will think over his/her proposal.”