Congress today said its primary aim is to retain the six seats it had won in 2009 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal and then work toward adding a few more seats in the election to the 42 constituencies in the state, which is set for a tough four-cornered contest.
"Our main objective is to hold on to our existing seats and then to increase the number of seats. The third aim is to increase our vote percentage in the state," West Bengal PCC president and Minister of State for Railways, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
He was speaking at a Meet the Press programme organised by the Kolkata Press Club. Chowdhury, however, noted that in 2011 a coalition government had been formed in the state and the Congress joined the government as a junior or insignificant partner. However, the coalition broke apart after the Trinamool Congress walked out of the UPA II government in September, 2012, he said.
Admitting that the Congress had a "delayed take-off" as an opposition to the challenge of Trinamool Congress in the state, Chowdhury said, "We were losing relevance in Bengal politics, but now we have regained that." "We have been able to overcome an atmosphere of demoralisation that had been created about the Congress," he claimed. "This election, we are focusing on north Bengal and in some parts of south Bengal and a seat in Kolkata," he said, adding, that he would not like to make any 'high-blown claim' and that he was making 'realistic assessment'. "Barring some ifs and buts, we are going to retain all the six seats," said Chowdhury, a fierce opponent of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee even when the parties were in alliance.
Asked about Mamata Banerjee's outburst against the Election Commission at public rallies and attack on EC officials by her party workers, he said, "Mamata is unsure about her strength this time and is worried. She is seeing a conspiracy in everything." "It is unacceptable that EC officials are being beaten up. It seems she has some designs which are being hampered by the Commission and that is why she has launched a vitriolic attack on it," he said.
Chowdhury said he has full confidence in the Election Commission, which is ensuring that polls are conducted in a free and fair manner. "I firmly believe that each and every voter will be able to exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner," the WBPCC president said.
He, however, claimed that there was terror and violence in remote areas of the state and in localised manner and that this was being perpetrated by the ruling TMC workers. Regarding the BJP's prospects in the state, he said, "The BJP is definitely a force in the state, but not a decisive force. After all, we must not forget that they are a national party. We must not belittle anyone." "Communal politics has never been able to make any mark in Bengal. But then even BJP does get votes in the state. But I want to only say that everyone should be aware of BJP's designs," he said.
About infighting within the state Congress over candidates, he said, "There was some disgruntlement initially, but it has faded away and we are fighting together." Asked if the TMC all-India general secretary Mukul Roy was keeping in touch with him after being allegedly snubbed by Mamata Banerjee, he said lightheartedly, Roy would never dares to do so. He then went on to say that "it is the practise of Banerjee to give importance to someone for sometime, but if he grows in stature, she will immediately cut the person down to size."
Chowdhury, talking about the internal politics of his rival party, said, "I have heard that Roy's candidates for the Lok Sabha were given the short shrift." "If Banerjee's nephew Abhisek Banerjee can be made a candidate, why not Mukul Roy's son, who is already an MLA and has some experience in Parliamentary politics?" he expressed surprise.
Responding to a question on Mamata Banerjee allegedly claiming that election to Baharampur Lok Sabha seat, where Chowdhury is the Congress candidate, has been scheduled in the fifth phase while the other two seats in Murshidabad district is in the second phase in the state to facilitate him, Chowdhury said, "Such allegations are ludicrous, infantile and an affront to the Constitutional body". "If we are not satisfied with its performance, conduction of election by it, we may bring it up before the right forum," he said. "EC of India is not only recognised, but eulogised by all democratic countries in the world. Making such comments against it will only degrade the position of West Bengal," Chowdhury claimed.
Regarding Banerjee's repeated accusation that the UPA government at the Centre had deprived cash-starved Bengal of funds for development, Chowdhury said that these claims were not true and that the state has failed to utilise funds provided by the Centre under different schemes. "I challenge the TMC government in the state to bring out a White Paper on this and I am ready to discuss the matter face to face with the chief minister," he said. He claimed that the state had not been able to utilise Rs 5,017 crore under the National Rural Health Mission and over Rs 8,500 crore provided under a special plan for backward states.
Chowdhury, citing documents, claimed that while Mizoram had recorded a maximum of 88 days work under the 100-day work guarantee scheme of the central government in 2012-13, Bengal could achieve only 35 days, while Tripura 87 days.
