In a significant development, the Congress has entrusted full authority to its West Bengal President, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, for finalizing candidates and devising the campaign strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
The Congress central leadership has announced the formation of the 28-member West Bengal Pradesh Congress Election Committee, with Chowdhury appointed as its Chairman.
This move holds significance for two primary reasons.
Firstly, it signals that the Congress high command has reached the conclusion that any hopes for a mutually agreeable seat-sharing arrangement with the Trinamool Congress have been exhausted, prompting them to empower Chowdhury fully in this matter.
Secondly, assigning this responsibility to Chowdhury is expected to accelerate the process of negotiating seat-sharing agreements with the CPI-M-led Left Front, an endeavor he is actively pursuing.
Observers note that a majority of the members in the 28-member election committee are staunchly opposed to forming any alliance with the Trinamool Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"The composition of the committee clearly reflects the endorsement of Chowdhury's stance by the Congress high command, indicating that, from the party's perspective in West Bengal, both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress are regarded as equal adversaries," remarked a political observer based in the city.
(With Agency Inputs)
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