'Scuffle' at Congress meet over poll funds

KOLKATA: It was meant to be a review meeting of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) to discuss the party's poor showing in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. What followed was a scuffle and heated debate on alleged siphoning of election funds by the state party leadership. It was finally left to state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to clear the air on issues ranging from dissolution of committees to funds allocation and the way ahead for the party in the days to come.
It came as a shock to many state leaders including Shankar Singh from Nadia when it came to be known that the district committees are being dissolved. Singh, the Nadia district president not only questioned this move but also sought details on election spending by candidates. Chowdhury felt that fingers were being pointed towards him and explained that funds hadn't been siphoned off as alleged. Chowdhury took over as state president in February this year and has been facing some opposition from within the party ever since.
"I do not have to depend on party funds for a living. My parents are dead and so is my daughter. Nobody can prove that I have misappropriated a single paisa. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) categorizes each constituency on the basis of the party's chance of winning it and allocates funds accordingly. The sitting MPs and a few others are in Category A and allocation is higher for them. This funding went directly to the candidates," he said, adding that
so far as funds for the WBPCC are concerned, he has submitted all accounts to Congress treasurer Motilal Vohra.
"All of you have access to Delhi and can check if there is any misappropriation of funds. If you can prove anything, I shall end my life. I never used the Congress to make money," Chowdhury said in his address to his party leaders.
Singh immediately stood up and clarified that he never alleged that the party president had siphoned off funds but had doubts on how the candidates had spent the funds allocated to them. Chowdhury went on to explain that he had done his best to ensure the Congress' victory in at least six seats in Bengal.
"I had told the high command that my first three jobs will be to retain the six seats in Bengal, retain the Congress' vote share in the state and try and increase the number of seats. Deepa Das Munshi's and Mannan Hossain's losses came as a shock to us. Hossain didn't lose in the six Assembly segments in Murshidabad but from the Assembly constituency of Karimpur in Nadia.
After I took over as WBPCC president, I spoke to Oscar Fernandes and he said that once a new president takes over all committees become redundant and have to be reconstituted. This doesn't mean that the existing members can't be reinstated or get back their posts. In these polls, as many as 35 of our candidates in Bengal forfeited their deposits. I will require the freedom to reorganize the party," he said.
Though he maintained that there is no 'Murshidabad Model', he also spoke on how Congress workers in that district keep in touch with the people throughout the year. He urged leaders in other districts to do the same.
He also said the party needs to target the 'Computerwallahs' or young computer-savvy voters who seem to have taken a liking for the BJP.
During the meeting, state general secretary of the party Kanak Debnath was pushed around by two other party leaders when he wanted to know whether the proceedings were formal or informal as certain decisions are being taken. Chowdhury assured Debnath that the matter will be reported to the Congress high command.
To journalists, Chowdhury said that it was a 'minor' incident that had been sorted out.