Kolkata: In an apparent bid to mollify its MLA Sovan Chatterjee close on the heels of his resignation from ministership and Kolkata Mayor’s post, the Trinamul Congress has invited him for a discussion with the top leadership.
On Saturday afternoon Trinamul general secretary and South Kolkata MP Subrata Bakshi called up Mr Chatterjee, according to sources adding that he asked him to attend a talk with him next week.
Mr Chatterjee also agreed during the telephonic conversation which took place at around 1 pm, sour-ces revealed.
It is not however clear whether chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who ordered Mr Chatterjee to quit the posts will also be present at the talk.
Trinamul insiders indicated that the talk would be important to understand Mr Chatterjee’s mind in wake of his resignation and his estranged wife Ratna’s volley of allegations on the personal front.
If needed, an attempt will be made to take him into confidence that the party is still with him so that he can reach out to the public and resume his day-to-day political activities for the party, sources hinted.
The development came at a time when speculation was rife that Mr Chatterjee’s political career was going nowhere and he may be sidelined within the party.
This is also going to be the first meeting between him and his party since his resignation. Mr Chatterjee was last seen with the Trinamul supremo at a programme of the fire and emergency services department at state secretariat: Nabanna soon before he submitted his resignation as a minister.
Apart from being an MLA of Behala East assembly constituency Mr Chatterjee is also the councillor of ward no 131 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and he has a sizeable followers among the 122 Trinamul councillors at the city civic body.
Mr Bakshi’s call came a day after some Trinamul councillors met the former Mayor at his residence, sources revealed.
Known for their rapport with the ex-Mayor they expressed their dissappointment to him over his resignation, sources clai-med.
Anticipating a dissidence by Mr Chatterjee’s followers the Trinamul leadership swung into action.
This assumes significance as his successor Firham Hakim would need the votes of 122 Trinamul councillors in the Mayor election to assume the office.
