From the Archives: Congress to form coalition govt. in West Bengal

The Congress Party in West Bengal has been authorised to form a coalition Government headed by Dr. P.C. Ghosh, Leader of the Progressive Democratic Front. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Central Parliamentary Board of the Congress here [Hyderabad] to-night [January 9] under the presidentship of Mr. S. Nijalingappa. The Board heard an account of the West Bengal situation from the Leader of the State Congress Party, Mr. Das Gupta, and the President of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, Dr. P.C. Chunder. The Congress General Secretary, Mr. Sadiq Ali, told correspondents that after considering the West Bengal situation in all its aspects the Board decided to allow the State Congress Party to form a coalition Ministry headed by Dr. Ghosh. Mr. Atulya Ghosh and other West Bengal Congress leaders immediately hailed the Board’s decision. Mr. Sadiq Ali made it clear to Pressmen that this decision to form a coalition Government was strictly limited to the situation in West Bengal only and did not mean that the Congress was deciding to form coalition Governments in other States. Asked whether similar coalitions would be formed in Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Mrs. Indira Gandhi said that the Board did not take up this question to-day. She, however, added that the Board would decide on any further coalitions on merit, if need be. But in view of to-day’s [January 9] developments, a similar decision by the Board to permit the Congress in Bihar to form a coalition with Soshit Dal is considered certain in the near future.