In a possible shift in its alliance with the Left, the Congress party is getting ready to contest independently in West Bengal, where by-elections for six assembly constituencies are scheduled for November 13. The state Congress unit has already shortlisted its candidates for all six seats and sent the names to the party high command for approval.
This emerging rift between the two alliance partners comes just over five weeks after the passing of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was thought to have been close to Rahul Gandhi.
