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Party has started working for the panchayat polls by constituting a 29-member Committee to decide about it
The simmering differences between Congress and its ally Trinamool Congress have reached a flashpoint following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s snub to the Centre on Teesta water agreement and Communal Violence Bill, forcing the Congress leadership to seriously consider going alone in the panchayat polls in the State.
This decision is being influenced by the feeling among Congress leaders that Banerjee by refusing to go with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh for signing Teesta Water agreement is trying to paint it as a villain and dilute its support among people of North Bengal, the major stronghold of the party from where 32 of its total 42 MLAs come.
Though no formal decision has been made, the Congress leadership has silently started working for the panchayat polls by constituting a 29-member Committee to decide about it, Congress sources said.
The panel is headed by party leader DB Roy and has Taher Khan and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijeet as joint conveners. The committee will hold a day-long Panchayat Raj Convention on November 2 this year.
Meanwhile, Congress has tried to play down the complaints made by a delegation of Congress MLAs, PCC and DCC leaders from the state to general secretary Rahul Gandhi and AICC in-charge for West Bengal Shakeel Ahmad on Monday against the alleged atrocities being committed against partymen by the Trinamool workers.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi admitted there are some issues but said that like in any coalition it can be resolved through coordination and dialogue. “The differences are there but they are not serious and not going to cause any crack in the coalition,” he said.
The response indicates the Congress dilemma. It does not want to divorce its ally, given that the latter’s 19 MPs are crucial for the UPA Government’s survival at the Centre. Moreover, the Congress knows that Banerjee has got a majority on her own and does not need the Congress in the State while the latter will be nowhere without Trinamool for sharing power in the State.
Congress is also conscious of the fact that Banerjee is increasingly attacking its support base by making populist decisions like that on Teesta, despite it not being in favour of the people as now the State Government would not get World Bank loan for canal constructions which would have increased the water usage from the present 25 per cent to 52 per cent, a senior leader said.
Moreover, both the allies are also competing to take on board the former supporters of the Left parties who are now drifting towards them. Also, in some places disillusioned by not getting posts by ruling Trinamool many of its cadre want to join the Congress which is being resisted by Trinamool resulting in some friction and clashes, sources pointed out.
The simmering differences between Congress and its ally Trinamool Congress have reached a flashpoint following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s snub to the Centre on Teesta water agreement and Communal Violence Bill, forcing the Congress leadership to seriously consider going alone in the panchayat polls in the State.
This decision is being influenced by the feeling among Congress leaders that Banerjee by refusing to go with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh for signing Teesta Water agreement is trying to paint it as a villain and dilute its support among people of North Bengal, the major stronghold of the party from where 32 of its total 42 MLAs come.
Though no formal decision has been made, the Congress leadership has silently started working for the panchayat polls by constituting a 29-member Committee to decide about it, Congress sources said.
The panel is headed by party leader DB Roy and has Taher Khan and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijeet as joint conveners. The committee will hold a day-long Panchayat Raj Convention on November 2 this year.
Meanwhile, Congress has tried to play down the complaints made by a delegation of Congress MLAs, PCC and DCC leaders from the state to general secretary Rahul Gandhi and AICC in-charge for West Bengal Shakeel Ahmad on Monday against the alleged atrocities being committed against partymen by the Trinamool workers.
Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi admitted there are some issues but said that like in any coalition it can be resolved through coordination and dialogue. “The differences are there but they are not serious and not going to cause any crack in the coalition,” he said.
The response indicates the Congress dilemma. It does not want to divorce its ally, given that the latter’s 19 MPs are crucial for the UPA Government’s survival at the Centre. Moreover, the Congress knows that Banerjee has got a majority on her own and does not need the Congress in the State while the latter will be nowhere without Trinamool for sharing power in the State.
Congress is also conscious of the fact that Banerjee is increasingly attacking its support base by making populist decisions like that on Teesta, despite it not being in favour of the people as now the State Government would not get World Bank loan for canal constructions which would have increased the water usage from the present 25 per cent to 52 per cent, a senior leader said.
Moreover, both the allies are also competing to take on board the former supporters of the Left parties who are now drifting towards them. Also, in some places disillusioned by not getting posts by ruling Trinamool many of its cadre want to join the Congress which is being resisted by Trinamool resulting in some friction and clashes, sources pointed out.
