Congress’ Siddiqui Dilemma
On 4 February, Bengal Congress leader and the party’s leader of opposition in the assembly, Abdul Mannan, wrote to the Delhi leadership to approve the state unit’s alliance with Siddiqui’s ISF.
“The addition of ISF in the Left-Congress alliance may be a game changer in the ensuing assembly elections”, wrote Mannan.
He also pointed out that Chowdhury had earlier visited Furfura Sharif and that Mannan himself had started “informal” talks with ISF.
While Siddiqui is eyeing the minority vote in these seats, the Congress is unwilling to cede an inch in its stronghold. As a threat, Siddiqui has also said that he will field candidates from the seats the Congress is contesting if no compromise is reached.
He has further insinuated that he’s “heard from a leader of the Congress” that a leader in the party is in talks with both the BJP and the TMC.
“I didn’t ask him the name, he didn’t tell me the name”, said Siddiqui in a television interview.
“Congress’ alliance with…