The internal strife in the Congress over its alliance with the Indian Secular Front (ISF) for the upcoming West Bengal elections refused to die down on Tuesday with senior leader Anand Sharma terming party colleague Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s remark against him as “unfortunate”. Sharma, the Congress’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, also said that his earlier statement against the party’s tie-up with the Muslim outfit should be seen in the history of context.
"What I've said is an expression of my concerns. Not only that I'm firmly committed to Congress ideology, which is inclusive, democratic and secular, but I’m also one of the historians and ideologue of the party and it has to be taken in that context," Sharma told news agency ANI.
Asked about Chowdhury’s strongly-worded tweets against him, the Congress veteran said: "I believe in a civilised political dialogue even if there are differences or ideological issues. I've noted what Adhir babu said but I can't become personal."
Sharma, a member of the G-23 group of leaders who wrote to Sonia Gandhi in August last year calling for party reform, had put out a tweet on Monday, saying the Congress cannot be selective in fighting communalists.
“Congress’ alliance with parties like ISF and other such forces militates against the core ideology of the party and Gandhian and Nehruvian secularism, which forms the soul of the party. These issues need to be approved by the CWC,” he had said.
Sharma had also termed the presence of Chowdhury at the event where the alliance was announced as painful and shameful.
However, his tweets drew sharp reaction from the West Bengal PCC president who said such statements would only serve the polarising agenda of the BJP.
“CPI(M) led Left Front is leading the secular alliance in West Bengal of which Congress is an integral part. We are determined to defeat BJP's communal & divisive politics and an autocratic regime,” Chowdhury said on Twitter.
He further said the Left front is allocating seats from its share to the newly formed ISF.
“Those who are committed to fight against #BJP parties venomous communalism should support the Congress & campaign for the party in five states rather than attempting to undermine the party by remarks in tune with BJP’s agenda,” he said in another tweet.
The Congress is contesting the West Bengal polls in a coalition with the Left parties and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), and has so far decided to contest on 92 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
