Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to head Congress election panel in West Bengal

New Delhi, February 5

Close on the heels of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s assertion that her party Trinamool Congress would fight the elections alone in the state, the Congress on Monday reiterated its faith in the state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury by appointing him chairman of the party’s Pradesh Election Committee (PEC).

Dashing hopes that INDIA bloc partners — TMC, CPM and Congress — will work out a seat-sharing arrangement in Bengal for the Lok Sabha polls, Mamata last week announced the TMC would contest the elections alone and not as part of the INDIA bloc.

The TMC supremo’s decision to part ways with the Opposition alliance came after she and Chowdhury fired barbs at each other. She criticised the Congress’ “unjustified” demand for 10-12 Lok Sabha seats, while Chowdhury said the grand old party would not “beg” for seats.

In a press release, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said party president Mallikarkarjun Kharge had approved the proposal of constitution of the PEC of West Bengal with immediate effect. Headed by Chowdhury, the 24-member PEC includes ex-MP Pradip Bhattacharya, CWC member Deepa Dasmunsi, DP Roy and others as members.