POLITICS !

Rebel FB ex-MP to join Trinamul on 21 July

The Forward Bloc is not ready to give any importance on the news of joining of its ex-MP Mr Hiten Barman to Trinamul Congress.

The general secretary of the district Forward Bloc Mr Udayan Guha said Mr Barman's desertion would make no difference in the organisational strength of the Forward Bloc. He said, "It is better for us to say nothing about him because he is no more a man of us."

The rebel Forward Bloc leader Mr Hiten Barman who had submitted his resignation from the party on the eve of the last Lok Sabha election is going to join the Trinamul Congress on 21 July. The aggrieved ex-MP left the Forward Bloc, as he was not re-nominated as a candidate in Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat.

Mr Guha said, "Mr Barman was the president of the party's district committee but he has no political connection with our party these days. We reported his activities and conveyed his anti-party statements to the state committee. Now, the state leadership are to decide about him. He may be going to be the 52-nd vice-president of the Trinamul Congress and we like to congratulate him in advance."

Mr Guha admitted that his party took no steps against Mr Barman after his submission of resignation letter. Neither he was expelled nor his resignation was accepted. A new executive committee including the president will be constituted during the party's district conference in December, the FB leader said.

President of Cooch Behar district Trinamul Congress Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said Mr Barman recently met Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Bannerjee in New Delhi and talked over his joining to the Trinamul. Already a number of his followers joined Trinamul. His inclusion in the Trinamul Congress would be announced at the gathering in Kolkata that is to be organised to celebrate 'Vijay Divas'.

Mentionworthy, the Trinamul Congress observes 'Shahid Divas' on 21 July every year but this year the day is marked as 'Vijay Divas'.

Mr Ghosh hoped that the Trinamul Congress might be richer by getting an experienced Parliamentarian like Mr Hiten Barman. His joining may act as a booster to make the party stronger in Cooch Behar district.

Mr Barman was found hesitant to comment over his stance. He told reporters that he might join the Trinamul at the programme on 21 July where he was invited to attend.