WB ASSEMBLY ELECTION

Rebel Trinamul man contests at Mekhliganj

Mr Sunil Ray is the president of Mekhliganj block unit of the Trinamul Congress. He was ranked second in the 2006 election against the Forward Bloc candidate, Mr Paresh Adhikary. This time too his main rival is Mr Adhikary, who is the state food and supply minister.

A large section of local Trinamul activists wanted the Mekhliganj seat for the Trinamul Congress to contest but it was allotted to the Congress. According to alliance norms the second position holder should get the opportunity to contest but their appeal was ignored. Aggrieved with the decision they fielded Mr Sunil Ray to contest.

On the otherhand, a large section of Congress supporters wanted Mr Mrityunjay Singha Sarkar as candidate but the party fielded Mr Jayanta Ray as the official candidate. The district Youth Congress too talked in favour of Mr Singh a Sarkar.

Aggrieved with the decisions of their concerned parties local Congress and Trinamul Congress supporters came out to support Mr Sunil Ray.

"I am contesting to honour the sentiment of local Trinamul Congress and Congress supporters. Till now I don't know what measures would be taken by my party leadership", Mr Ray said. He contested two times previously - in 1996 as a Congress candidate and in 2006 as a Trinamul candidate.

Mr Ray was associated with Tinbigha movement since 1974. "I will continue my movement for the greater interest of the people of bordering areas", he vowed.

Replying a question over probable disciplinary action against him he said, "If I win I must go to take the side of my party as I am a follower of Miss Mamata Banerjee's ideal. I think they will review and consider my case as a member of their family." 

District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said, "We conveyed reports over Mr Sunil Ray to the party leadership and they are to take decisions. We are just followers of our party leadership, not decision makers."