[1]In a warning to rebel Congress leaders, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said none will be let off, whosoever he may be, for going against the party line.
"Whoever he may be, he may be a big leader – but no one will be spared if he goes against the party's policy. There is no place of independent candidates in politics," Mukherjee told an election rally at Santoshpur village under Hasan Assembly constituency in Birbhum district.
On the refrains of rebel Congress leaders of not compromising honour and dignity by "conceding winnable seats to ally Trinamool Congress", Mukherjee shot back "what do they mean by - dignity, prestige and recognition? What is more prestigious – 18/20 seats out of total 294 candidates or 40 seats out of 60/65!", the Congress heavyweight said hinting at grievances in the party's rebel camp about being allocated lesser number of seats during seat sharing talks.
While Mukherjee did not name any rebel leader, WBPCC chief Manas Bhuniya said in Burdwan, "We have been watching the anti-alliance activities of MPs Adhir Chowdhury in Murshidabad and Deepa Dasmunshi in North Dinajpur districts. AICC will take the decision on their fate."
While Chowdhury, party president of Murshidabad district, has considerable influence in his home turf, Deepa, wife of ailing Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, is leading the dissidents in North Dinajpur districts.
The PCC has already suspended 12 rebel Congress leaders who filed their nominations as Independents after not getting party tickets in these two districts.
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