The Congress national leadership on Monday approved the restructuring of the Bengal unit with state party president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury bringing in his favourites but apparently also attempting a balance with inclusion of leaders of various factions.
The AICC issued a long list of the restructured committees and office-bearers, which state leaders had been looking forward to for some time.
“When Chowdhury was the chief the last time (2014-18), he had been notorious for filling the ranks with his favourites and alienating leaders who were not part of his faction. Chowdhury’s actions had then triggered desertions. This time, he is apparently trying a different approach,” said a state Congress leader.
The Behrampore MP was made the Bengal president of the Congress following the death of Somen Mitra.
Chowdhury’s nominee, Shadab Khan, had defeated Mitra’s son Rohan in the election to the post of the state youth wing chief in 2018.
But Chowdhury has not only elevated Rohan to the post of general-secretary of the parent party but also kept a number of key leaders favoured by the deceased state Congress chief. “Leaders such as Amitabha Chakraborti (convenor, manifesto committee), Sardar Amjad Ali (vice-president), Badal Bhattacharya (convenor, coordination committee) and Santosh Pathak (treasurer) finding themselves on committees is an indicator that Chowdhury wants to do things differently this time,” said a state leader.
“For instance, he (Chowdhury) took special care this time to reach out to senior north Bengal leader Deba Prasad Roy who is made a vice-president and included in several committees. He had been displeased with being isolated the last time,” said an MLA close to Chowdhury.
The list includes 11 vice-presidents, 14 general-secretaries, committees for coordination, campaign, manifesto, outreach and communication, discipline, state elections, executive members and permanent invitees.
“Questions are still being raised over why hardworking leaders such as Chakraborti and Pathak did not find themselves on the crucial 16-member election committee (headed by Chowdhury),” said the leader.
