Thaindian News

Kolkata, April 18 (IANS) Warning party rebels contesting against official Trianmool Congress and Congress candidates of suspension, West Bengal Congress president Manas Bhunia Monday said that party rule applies to every worker.

The Congress leadership last week suspended 12 rebels who have joined the electoral fray as independent candidates against the official Trianmool Congress and Congress alliance candidates in the six northern districts for Monday’s first phase of polls.

“The rule applies to other Congressmen also who are contesting as independents against the official Trinamool and Congress alliance candidates. Nobody who breaks the party line should think that the rule applies for others and not for them. We are keeping track of everything,” Bhunia told reporters.

Even after the suspension of 12 Congress independents, a few rebels, especially four in Nadia district and two in Kokata district, have remained unmoved and vowed to contest as independents.

Bhunia, however, seemed unconcerned about two Congress parliamentarians, Adhir Ranjan Choudhury and Deepa Dasmunsi, who are openly backing the independents in the Murshidabad and North Dinajpur districts.

They are openly campaigning for the independent candidates against the official alliance candidates.

“Both of them are very senior and respected leaders of the party. They are responsible. I have spoken to them. They said they are working for the party,” said Bhunia.

He requested the Trinamool Congress leadership to follow the Congress stand against its rebels.

“They should also act against rebels who are contesting as independents against the Trinamool-Congress candidates, especially the Congress candidates,” said Bhunia.

The Trinamool is contesting in 226 constituencies while the Congress has fielded candidates in 65 constituencies for the elections to the 294-member assembly.

The state will have six-phase elections ending May 10.