The war of nerves between senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia and Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan today took an ugly turn, with Bhunia accusing the latter of insulting him and taking decisions keeping the Congress Legislative Party in dark.
Bhunia also remained evasive whether he would resign as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, a post to which his party wants to nominate CPI(M)'s Sujan Chakraborty.
"Deliberate attempts are being made to insult me and portray me as a villain. When Abdul Mannan had asked me to sign for the nomination for PAC chairman, I had told him if he is thinking of somebody else in that post, I should not file nomination, as it would be an insult for me. I am a six-time MLA and I cannot work under a junior in a committee. Mannan promised me that nothing of such sort would be done. I filed the nomination after his assurance," Bhunia told PTI.
"But Mannan deliberately insulted me. No CLP meeting was held after June 17. So, how Mannan is saying that the decision was taken at a CLP meeting in favour of Sujan Chakraborty? He has even informed PCC president Adhir Chowdhury that CLP has taken the decision in favour of Sujan Chakraborty, which is absolutely false," Bhunia alleged.
He said he had also informed the party's deputy leader Nepal Mahato, and chief whip Manoj Chakraborty that his name should be withdrawn from the list of PAC nomination, if Mannan has decided to back Chakraborty.
"Both of them told me that they will inform Mannan about it. But nothing was done to withdraw my name. The Speaker announced my name as PAC chairman as the post goes to main opposition party. So what is my fault? What anti-party activity had I committed? I am being insulted and humiliated deliberately," Bhunia claimed.
State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury had called a meeting of party legislators and leaders on Saturday.
"I may not be able to attend the meeting as I will be out of station. I have not received any official communication from the party demanding my resignation as PAC chairman. If I get any official communication, then I will comment on the matter," Bhunia said.
Miffed over Bhunia being appointed PAC chairman, West Bengal unit of Congress has informed the high command of his "anti-party" activity and urged him to resign from the post.
