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Congressmen jump onto Trinamul bandwagon

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress' unexpected electoral success in recent times seems to have exposed the chinks in the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee's armoury. Now, five senior PCC functionaries, led by its general secretary Sultan Ahmed, have decided to hop onto the Trinamul bandwagon.

Ahmed's announcement has come as a shock to the Congress leadership and also surprised political pundits. A Somen Mitra loyalist, Ahmed was among those who demanded Mamata's ouster from the Congress in 1998.

He was among those Congress leaders whom Mamata hated most. So much so that she had gone on record saying that these leaders will never be given entry into the Trinamul.

Speaking to rediff.com, he justified his action saying, "Results of recent election prove that one cannot put up a credible fight against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) by ignoring Mamata Banerjee. I have the support of 15 legislators who are ready to leave the Congress with me. We are disappointed by the high command's conduct so far," Ahmed said.

However, PCC sources disputed Ahmed's claims. According to them, only five legislators, including the Youth Congress president Paresh Pal, are likely to switch loyalty.

The Trinamul's growing popularity, including in Ahmed's assembly constituency Entally, which he fears losing in next year's assembly election, may have prompted his decision.

But sources close to Ahmed said that he was not keen on contesting from Entally. Instead, he's eyeing Bowbazar seat, which used to be former Congress leader Sudip Bandopadhyay's personal pocketborough before he joined the Trinamul.

After Sudip got elected to the Lok Sabha, his actress wife Naina contested from the seat in 1998, but lost the election. However, much has changed since then.

The Trinamul has consolidated itself in Calcutta and is virtually unbeatable. Its success in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls and in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation election has made Sudip optimistic of his prospects.

According to a senior Trinamul leader, a delegation comprising many newly elected corporators was in New Delhi to request Mamata to deny entry to Ahmed and leaders of his ilk.

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