The Congress turned the heat on the Left on Monday calling it a “molester of democracy” in Nandigram. It also condemned “interference” in the electoral process in the wake of CPI(M) MP Lakshman Seth’s reported threat to CRPF DIG Alok Raj, posted at Nandigram, not to venture out for patrolling.

“There are not only serious allegations of molestation of women, but also the molestation of democracy itself,” AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press briefing here.

Asked to name the molester, Singhvi said, “Those who have interfered with the electoral process. Obviously, we mean the Left... The Congress party views the incidents generally in Nandigram and the one related to the DIG seriously and condemns interference.”

The Congress’ attack on the Left came in the backdrop of a series of spats between the top leadership of the two parties. While the Congress has been critical of the Left Front Government in West Bengal on the Nandigram issue, the two have been engaged in a bitter war of words in the run up to panchayat elections in the state.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi criticised the law and order situation and “political violence” in the Left-ruled state at a rally in Malda on April 28. It drew sharp reactions from the Left with CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu stating that her comment was of “no importance” as she knew “nothing about West Bengal”. It was followed by a personal attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who said the Congress had lost all elections under Singh and the PM had failed in all sectors.