West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Saturday that the media conjecture on an alliance between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress for the 2016 Assembly elections, was not totally without basis. “Whenever there is a speculation in the media there is reason behind it. The media in Bengal is not so stupid as to speculate without any reason,” Mr. Chowdhury told journalists.
Referring to senior CPI(M) leader Gautam Deb’s comment about the need of a larger unity of like-minded parties to oust the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Mr. Chowdhury said it was politicians like Mr. Deb who were intensifying the conjecture.
“Mr. Deb’s comments were dismissed by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Media only speculates on the basis of the information it receives,” said Mr. Chowdury.
As for the recent victory of a Congress candidate in a borough chairman election in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation with CPI(M)’s support, Mr. Chowdhury said such understanding between parties at the grassroots’ level was nothing new. He, however, admitted that the development took place after discussion between the local leaders of both parties.
“Even the BJP has supported the TMC in another borough. There is no discussion on it. But if CPI(M) supports Congress the media is abuzz with intense speculation,” said Mr. Chowdhury.
Last month Mr. Deb created a controversy by saying that the Left Front in Bengal was not strong enough to oust the TMC on its own strength. He hinted at an “understanding” between the Congress and the CPI(M) when he stressed on the need of joining forces of like minded political parties defeat the TMC.
