Controversy man looks to make a double hattrick

Kolkata, Apr 24 (UNI) Known for his maverick ways and uncanny knack of attracting controversies, West Bengal Transport and Sports minister Subhas Chakrabarty is seeking re-election for the sixth consecutive time from Belgachia (East) constituency here.

When the state goes to its third phase polls, it will see one of the most colourful characters within the Left ranks fight it out after putting his CPI(M) bosses in a spot with his outlandish comments against the election commission.

Currently under an invisible scanner for his verbal tirade against the Election Commission, Mr Chakraborty faces a tough battle this time from his erstwhile disciple.

"I am not afraid of Election Commission or anyone to tell the truth," said Mr Chakrabarty on many occasions, while he openly criticized the Election Commission and its officials time and again during election campaign and invited criminal charges.

Mr Chakrabarty was the first minister against whom the EC has registered a criminal case at the Lake Town police station in North 24-parganas under at least 2 sections of the IPC and investigations were being conducted.

A poll veteran since 1977 when CPI-M state secretary Promod Dasgupta had chosen him a fit candidate for the seat Mr Chakrabarty never looked back. After that Mr Chakrabarty never looked behind to establish his popularity and became one of the hard core leaders of the Alimuddin street Brigade.

Though Mr Chakrabarty won the 1977 election defeating his nearest Janata Party rival by a margin of 20,853 votes, the margin of his 2001 elections against his nearest All India Trinamool congress rival reduced to 4444 in a six-corner contest.

While under the prevailing situation, the fate of Mr Chakrabarty in 2006 elections invited many questions before the political circle, one could not be surprised to see his fighting image being tarnished.

While he has grown to be a leader within a party faction, Mr Chakraborty may not be liked withing the officialdom, who however, would never accept it publicly. Thus it may not be surprising, if the offical faction in the party in North 24 Parganas do not come out for Mr Chakrabarty on the plea of Election Commission's role, which Mr Chakrabarty described as 'unconstitutional and undemocratic'.

It was also against the party mandate to provide ticket to any one for more than three times. Yet, Mr Chakraborty was accorded a favour for his crowed pulling image that no doubt helped the party to establish its popularity through mass meetings, some leaders at the district headquarters of the party pointed out.

Mr Chakraborty's presence in the district committee was also questioned a few years back and the dispute was resolved after the intervention of the leader like Jyoti Basu and the former state Secretary Anil Biswas.

However, he was was neither considered as one of the members of the state secretariat nor chosen to be a member in its polit bureau.

Despite his popularity amongst a section of the party supporters and followers, Mr Chakrabarty carried a both black and white image.

He is likely to face a stiff challenge this time from his arch rival Trinamool Congress nomitee Sujit Basu. One of his former lieutenants from Lake Town, whom he defeated by a meager difference of just two per cent votes during last elections in a six-corner election.

Sujit joined the Trinamool Congress and fought Mr Chakrabarty from Belgachhia (East) in 2001.

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