By appointing Subhankar Sarkar a new “Mamata Banerjee-friendly” president of the Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee the Congress may have begun to drop its aggressive line --- as was witnessed during the Adhir Chowdhury era --- against the Trinamool Congress, sources in the Bidhan Bhavan, the Pradesh Congress headquarters say.

When asked to comment on the Congress’ future conduct vis a vis the TMC the new PCC president said that he had nothing personal against any outfit or their leaders and that the Congress Party would tow a democratic line commensurate and consistent with its democratic values and traditions. “The Congress is clear about its secular democratic values … we have nothing personal against

the Trinamool Congress … if we see that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is working towards restoring the democratic culture in the State then we will have no reason to be unnecessarily combative,” Sarkar a comparatively lesser known leader and known for his moderate ways and “workable chemistry with the TMC,” said.

On what he had to say about the Chief Minister and her handling of recent affairs Sarkar said he had nothing personal against any leader adding her would work according to the directions received from the high command and as per the wishes and desires of the party rank and file. He tended to remain evasive on whether his tenure would see a gradual distancing from the Left, particularly the CPI(M) in alliance with which it had been contesting election since 2016 Sarkar said Congress was a friend of all secular democratic forces and that he would go by the general will of the people and the party rank and file.

Sarkar was named the PCC president late on Saturday evening. He has formerly been the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary in charge of northeastern states.