Congress takes 'serious note' of 'grave anti-party activities' after Mallikarjun Kharge's poster defaced in Bengal

Taking serious note of such acts, AICC general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party would not tolerate such 'gross indiscipline'.

New Delhi: As supporters of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury targeted party chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his comments on ties with Mamata Banerjee, Congress on Monday read the riot act, saying it has taken “very serious note” of the “grave” anti-party activities and will not tolerate such public display of defiance and indiscipline.

In what is seen as a message to Chowdhury, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said “a few” office bearers and party workers have made “certain uncharitable remarks” against the party president in media as well as on social media. He also mentioned acts of vandalisation of a hoarding outside the West Bengal Congress office.

“This has hurt the sentiments of millions of party workers and supporters. We are taking a very serious note of such grave anti party activities. The Indian National Congress shall not tolerate such public display of defiance and indiscipline,” Venugopal said in a terse statement.

The General Secretary in-charge of Bengal unit Ghulam Ahmed Mir has been asked to “immediately submit a factual report of these acts of gross indiscipline”, he said.

Kharge told PTI he did not want to comment on an individual and described Chowdhury as  the party’s “combative soldier”. 

“Few people claiming that Trinamool Congress didn't want us to forge an alliance with the Left, are trying to present this in a different manner. But, it will not happen. Congress is strong and understands each other. What has happened in Bengal is that the High command has taken a decision to have a coalition with the Left and we are moving forward with that,” Kharge said.

All started with Kharge's comments at a press conference in Mumbai where he chided Chowdhury saying that it is not West Bengal leader but the party leadership that takes a call on its ties with Trinamool Congress. Congress and the Left are in alliance in Bengal and fighting against Trinamool.

Chowdhury is a known Mamata-critic and virtually prevented the party from entering into an alliance with Trinamool, which had accused him of being a “BJP agent”. 

After Kharge's comments, Chowdhury had said he cannot be part of someone who is out to destroy the Congress. He also said, “I cannot speak in favour of someone who wants to finish me and our party in Bengal politically. This is a battle for every Congress worker. I have spoken on their behalf. I do not want the state Congress to be used for her (Banerjee's) personal agenda."

A number of Chowdhury supporters had posted comments against Kharge, many of them in bad taste. 

Unidentified persons also wrote "agent of Trinamool Congress" on Kharge's posters and hoardings in Kolkata. Sources said Chowdhury had expressed displeasure over the development and directed the party workers to get a complaint lodged.