Anand Sharma questions Cong-ISF alliance in West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan hits back

New Delhi: The rift within the Congress party is widening after a group of dissident leaders known as the Congress' G-23 raised apprehension on the functioning of the party. While the leaders led by the former leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad held a show of strength in Jammu, it resorted to strengthening the party.

As per recent developments, the rift was rather fueled after two Congressmen- Senior leader Anand Sharma and Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, President of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee engaged in a war of tweets.

Anand Sharma, a prominent member of the G-23 group in a tweet attacked the party for forging an alliance with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), a party formed in January by Abbas Siddiqui of the Furfura Sharif shrine in West Bengal's Hooghly district.

Slamming the party, Sharma in a tweet wrote, "Congress' alliance with parties like ISF and other such forces militates against the core ideology of the party and Gandhian and Nehruvian secularism, which forms the soul of the party. These issues need to be approved by the CWC."

"Congress cannot be selective in fighting communalists but must do so in all its manifestations, irrespective of religion and colour. The presence and endorsement West Bengal PCC President is painful and shameful, he must clarify," added Sharma while addressing Choudhury.

Reacting to Sharma's tweet, Choudhury hit back at him in a series of tweets.

Choudhury tweeted, "Would urge a select group of distinguished Congressmen to rise above always seeking personal comfort spots & stop wasting time singing praises of PM. They owe a duty to strengthen the Party & not undermine the tree that nurtured them."

While explaining on the seat sharing arrangement of the alliance Choudhury stated, "CPI(M) led Left Front is leading the secular alliance in West Bengal of which Congress is an integral part. We are determined to defeat BJP's communal & divisive politics and an autocratic regime."

"Congress has got its full share of seats. Left Front is allocating seats from its share to the newly formed Indian Secular Front-ISF. Ur choice to call the decision of CPM led front 'communal' is only serving the polarising agenda of BJP," Choudhury added.

Taking a dig at the dissident leaders Choudhury further asserted, "those who are committed to fight against BJP parties venomous communalism should support the Congress & campaign for the party in five states rather than attempting to undermine the party by remarks in tune with BJP's agenda."

Recently Azad praised PM Modi while attending an event in Jammu, wherein he said, "I appreciate that he does not hide his true self. Those who do... are living in a bubble."

Polling to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases, on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29. Voting will take place on May 2.

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