No power on earth can finish off the Congress, newly-appointed West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Manas Bhuniya said on Tuesday. He was replying to a question as to what would be his response if the ally Trinamul Congress continued to engineer defection from the state Congress.
“Some leaders may leave the party for their personal interests but the workers have remained and will remain steadfastly loyal to the party. It is these workers who are our asset,” he added.
As if to confirm his assertion, party workers were already present at the state Congress headquarters, Bidhan Bhavan, when he arrived from Delhi to take charge as the new chief. However, prominent leaders, including Pradip Bhattacharya, Adhir Chowdhury, Deepa Das Munshi and others were conspicuous by their absence. His elevation has not gone down well with a section of the state Congress. “Pranab da had successfully curbed the intra-party factional feud. Now it will again plague the party,” a party general secretary said.
Mr Bhuniya said that his priorities would be to strengthen the party organisation and consolidate the Congress-Trinamul Congress alliance in the state.
Meanwhile, Mr Bhuniya is likely to quit as the CLP leader. Although he did not confirm or deny the report, he is believed to have told close associates that it was not possible for him to hold both offices. Two names are doing the rounds for the CLP post: Asit Mal and Abu Hena. While, Mr Mal is the chief whip of the CLP in the Assembly, Mr Hena is the deputy leader of the CLP.