Doors open to allies, says new Bengal Cong chief

Kolkata: Newly appointed Bengal Pradesh Congress president Subhankar Chowdhury on Sunday said the party had kept its doors open to allies, hinting at a climbdown of tensions between Congress and Trinamool in the state. He also laid emphasis on strengthening the party in Bengal, looking beyond help from any alliance partner.
“Congress has always kept its doors open. It is for the betterment of the nation.If Bengal govt wants to set up an industry, I will cooperate with them in the interest of the state. But I will not support arm-twisting by any industrialist,” Chowdhury said at his maiden press conference hours after being appointed the state Congress chief.
“I don’t want to identify any strategy as a soft line or a hard line. My priority is to listen to the demands of the people and drive the party towards that. Trinamool is a political party and if it’s able to maintain democratic set-up in the state, there is no logic in opposing that,” he said.
Chowdhury’s statement came at a time when outgoing state president Adhir Chowdhury held a rally against the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case.
Speaking on Congress’ ties with Left Front, the new state party chief said he had campaigned with LF leaders even in the last Lok Sabha elections. “What if a new political equation is created in Bengal tomorrow? What if civil society members contest elections? We will stand with them. However, such decisions are taken by the high command,” he said.
Chowdhury said Congress would not tolerate any attack on its party workers. “If any party attacks our workers, I will oppose that. I will continue to oppose any party which does not believe in giving space to the opposition. I am not aligned with what the two parties are doing at Centre and in the state,” he said.