The West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) is sending a letter to the Congress high command, conveying its unwillingness to continue in the Mamata Banerjee government and seeking its permission for the Congress ministers to quit. This new development has come following the “behaviour” of Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday. Earlier on Friday, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the West Bengal Assembly also adopted a resolution to condemn Ms Banerjee’s “breach of trust”. Ms Banerjee, however, refused to comment on this latest development.
The CLP held a meeting at the Assembly where most of the MLAs vehemently criticised Ms Banerjee and her party for not supporting Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature for the presidential election. Veteran Congress leader and a minister in the state Cabinet Abu Hena also supported the views of the majority MLAs. “As a minister I can tell you that our suggestions have never been taken into account by the government. We are not being consulted before important decisions are being taken. It is an insult to us as well as to the Congress Party and there is no point in continuing in this Cabinet,” Mr Hena told in the meeting.
Congress MLA Manoj Chakraborty, who had quit the council of ministers, protesting the high-handedness of the Trinamul Congress and Ms Banerjee, was most vocal in the meeting. “I had resigned for the same reason and I believe that all our ministers in the government should quit immediately after this latest development. I also believe that our MLAs should get permission to oppose the state government,” he said.
Senior Congress MLA D.P. Roy, however, was in favour of taking some more time before taking any decision. But his suggestion was outright rejected by the other MLAs.
WBPCC president Pradip Bhattacharya, who was also present in the meeting, shared the same view of quitting the government. “I support your view. Several MPs also suggested to quit the council of ministers. However, since it is a policy decision, I will convey this view to the high command for approval,” he told in the meeting.
Later CLP leader Mohammed Sohrab said, “The MLAs have told in the meeting that they are feeling embarrassed in continuing in this government in the present situation. The WBPCC has taken this view and will convey the same to the high command.”
Reacting to this, Trinamul Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee said that the Congress could take any decision. “But the government is not in any crisis and will not be for this,” he claimed.