Senior Bengal Congress MLA Manas Bhunia meets Rahul Gandhi

KOLKATA: Senior Bengal Congress MLA Manas Bhunia on Wednesday met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and explained the situation which compelled him to accept the post of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Bhunia has been asked by Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to explain why disciplinary action would not be taken against him for accepting PAC chairman's post by ignoring the party whip. Bhunia has already replied to the show cause notice served by the state party chief.

Bhunia earned the wrath of Gandhi after he violated party whip in accepting the post and continuing his job even though the party had asked him to resign. "I have explained our vice-president the situation which compelled me to accept the post. I have also submitted in writing the entire episode in which some state Congress leaders tried to brand me as a villain," Bhunia told ET after his meeting with Gandhi on Wednesday morning.

Bhunia had also sought an appointment from party chief Sonia Gandhi, but yet to get a call from her. It is learnt that Congress high command might ask C.P.Joshi, party observer for Bengal, to organise a meeting among Bhunia, state Congress president Chowdhury and Bengal opposition leader and party MLA Abdul Mannan to sort out the issue amicably.