The entire state Congress leadership favoured the party’s alliance with the Left, but opinions of senior members differed over seat-sharing
Clarion India
KOLKATA — Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday discussed with West Bengal party leaders various aspects of the party’s alliance with the Left Front for 2021 Assembly elections.
Former Congress president held a virtual meeting with Bengal unit leaders.
According to the state Congress leadership, Mr Gandhi enquired about the seat-sharing deal between the two parties.
During the meeting, the entire state Congress leadership favoured the party’s alliance with the Left, but opinions of senior members differed over seat-sharing, reports PTI.
Some members said that the party should take a cue from the just-concluded polls in Bihar, where it managed to win only 19 out of the 70 seats it contested, before arriving at any decision.
A senior Congress leader told Rahul Gandhi during the meet that the entire state unit is keen on forging an alliance with the Left, but seat-sharing talks were yet to start.
According to the report the Congress leader said, “the Left-Congress alliance in Bengal is the best possible option for defeating the TMC and the BJP.”
Another leader said, “Some were of the opinion that the party had contested 92 seats during the 2016 polls, and the number shouldn’t go down this time.”
Other leaders of state unit of Congress suggested that it would be wise to concentrate on areas where the party has a significant support base.”
( With agency inputs)