Kolkata, Jan 11 (NationPress) The Chairman of the Congress Screening Committee for West Bengal, B.K. Hariprasad, announced on Sunday that the initial meeting of the committee took place and that the party's leadership will soon convene with the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) to finalize the strategy for the forthcoming Assembly elections.

In an interview with IANS, Hariprasad stated, "This was our inaugural meeting aimed at determining our next steps. We will coordinate with the Bengal in-charge and the state president prior to visiting Bengal and solidifying the process."

On January 4, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) appointed B.K. Hariprasad as the chair of the West Bengal screening committee in light of the upcoming Assembly elections.

This meeting marked the first gathering since the committee's establishment.

When queried about the number of seats the party intends to contest and any potential alliance partners, Hariprasad responded, "All decisions will be made by Gulam Mir, the in-charge secretary, after which we will proceed accordingly."

During the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Congress contested alongside the Left Front and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) but did not secure a single seat in the 294-seat Assembly. Following this electoral setback, Congress and the Left Front chose to part ways and will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections independently.

As of now, there have been no substantial discussions with the Left Front regarding an electoral alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections. The WBPCC leadership is waiting for directives from the party's high command before engaging in formal discussions with any parties.

Notably, on January 7, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge appointed leaders as AICC Senior Observers for the forthcoming Assembly elections in states including Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and West Bengal. For the elections in West Bengal, Sudip Roy Barman, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, and Prakash Joshi have been designated as senior observers.

The appointments of these senior leaders are crucial as the party aims to reclaim the ground it has lost in previous elections. After a lackluster performance in the Bihar Assembly polls, the party is eager for electoral victories in the upcoming elections.

In response to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's comments, Hariprasad remarked, "For 500 or even 700 years, Mughal rule existed, and for 200 years, the British ruled, yet Hindus were never in danger. Since the inception of the RSS, Hindus have been made to feel as if they are in peril."