GUWAHATI, Dec 23 - Internal problems and contradictions within the Congress party seem to be hampering the effort for formation of the opposition �grand alliance� in Assam, according to the Left.
�We had earlier held a few meetings with the State Congress leadership where both sides agreed on the need to jointly fight against the BJP in the 2021 Assembly polls. The State Congress unit had given the call for formation of a grand alliance and we accordingly reciprocated. However, things have remained static for the last couple of months. The comments made by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh were a dampener,� Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretariat member Dambaru Bora told this newspaper on Wednesday.
It is noteworthy that the three main Left parties � the CPI, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation � had held discussions with the Congress regarding the issue of opposition unity. While the CPI and the CPI(ML) Liberation had expressed willingness to be part of the grand alliance, the CPI(M) had agreed to consider having an �understanding� with the proposed front.
However, Jitendra Singh, during his Assam visit some weeks ago, had stated that any final decision regarding formation of the alliance would be taken only by the Congress party�s high command.
�There seem to be some internal problems in the Congress party. This is proving to be a hindrance in taking forward the issue and giving a formal shape to the grand alliance. We are very much eager for a united fight against the BJP,� Bora said, adding that the CPI is hopeful of some progress on the matter soon.
CPI(ML) Liberation central committee member Bibek Das expressed similar opinions.
�The outcome of the recent Bihar Assembly elections proves that an alliance is likely to achieve the desired outcome if it gets formal shape early. The Assam Congress, as the largest opposition, played a positive role by initially leading the efforts to form a grand alliance. However, things have not moved much since then. We do not know the reason. Maybe there is some internal conflict within the Congress party or maybe it is part of their strategy to not reveal the cards till the eleventh hour,� Das said.
He cautioned against any further delay in the process of alliance formation.
�State Congress president Ripun Bora has said that his party remains committed to the formation of a grand alliance. That is a positive sign. We want the alliance to be firmed up at the earliest. Or else the anti-BJP forces may lose the initiative,� Das added.