The State leadership of the Congress appealed here on Sunday to the party rebels who are contesting as Independent candidates against official nominees of the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, to withdraw their nominations and not to go against the party line.
A statement signed by Pradip Bhattacharya, president of the State unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, spokesperson for the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), was issued from the State headquarters of the party.
The statement noted that “in every election, some deserving leaders who are otherwise eligible in all respects do not get nominations” and “frustration or dissention is crept in the minds of those who are denied tickets,” but emphasised that “no personal ambition or agenda should get priority over people's will.”
“It is high time for all concerned to desist themselves from any such attempt that may cause any adverse effect on the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance in any manner whatsoever,” it appealed.
It urged party members not to go against the decision of the Congress high command and also appealed to the electorate to not cast a single vote in support of a dissident candidate. “We want that these Independent candidates withdraw their nomination. We will also ask the senior leadership of both parties, the Trinamool and the Congress to take disciplinary action against these people so that they can no longer be identified with the party,” Mr. Bhattacharya said.
