Kolkata: Factional arguments jolt the Congress in Bengal with its leaders singing different tunes. WBPCC President Adhir Ranjan Choudhary clearly stated that INC was never and is still not in alliance with ISF.
"I have been saying this since before elections. On behalf of INC, I had joined hands with the Left. I have no alliance with ISF. That's why, during the elections in Murshidabad, ISF posed their candidates and had told the public to defeat the Congress. After that, I am declaring again, we have no alliance with ISF. I don't have to know who says what. As state President I'm saying, we had no alliance with ISF, we only had alliance with the Left. What happened between the Left and the ISF is their issue. If we would have been in alliance, then ISF would not have had rivalled us, it's simple math."
It was after Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury denied INC's alliance with ISF, Congress leader Abdul Mannan reacted to his statement, and said "We are in alliance till Sonia Gandhi dissolves it".
Firing the shots, Mannan said, "We (Sanyukt Morcha) didn't win due to many reasons. We were decided that we will stand beside the elected candidate from Sanyukt Morcha, ISF candidate Naushad Siddiqui, if he faces any problems. When he faced problems, I felt, as a fellow politician, it is important to help him."
Making the rift apparent he said, "I don't believe what he (Adhir Ranjan) says. I work according to the directions if Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. If Sonia Gandhi calls the alliance quits, only then it is so. Whenever Delhi shall say, I will agree."
He said that the alternative to Modi is Rahul Gandhi and there is no other option other than Congress.
Congress did not register in the west bengal polls and its dismal performance has triggered controversy.