PCC infighting intensifies as rebel leader meets Sonia

Bhunia and former state president, Somen Mitra are presently camping in Delhi and meeting central leaders to apprise them about the situation of the party in Bengal. They met party general secretary C P Joshi as well. “We were called by Madam and so we have come,’’ Bhunia told The Indian Express.

Chaudhury retorted, “Madam never calls anybody. I am a four-time MP and she called me only once. These people seek appointments and meet her and later tell that Madam called them.’’

Bhunia said he told Sonia about the massive erosion the party is suffering from under the present leadership. “Apart from nine MLAs, the president of the Youth Congress, Shamik Hussain and many other Congress functionaries have also left the party. It is time the Congress high command took note of the situation and set things right,’’ Bhuina said.

Chaudhury, who presided over a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party at Bidhan Bhavan told party workers to plunge into the campaign for the bypolls at Basirhat (south) and Chowringhee to be held on September 13, followed by a meeting of Lok Sabha leaders of the state Youth Congress.

“Out of 42 Lok Sabha constituencies from Bengal, we have only 34 leaders with us as six have defected to the Trinamool Congress,” Chaudhury said.

Chaudhury has also removed Shankar Singh, a former MLA and president of Nadia district Congress from his post as he said he was not happy with his job. Singh’s son Shubhankar had last week joined the TMC.