Sports minister withdraws from CAB polls

Kolkata, Jan 23 (UNI) Sitting at rest all speculations, West Bengal Sports Minister today succumbed to party pressure deciding not to contest CAB election for the post of president.

The maverick minister, who had announced his candidature as an opponent to city Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee promised not to go ahead following a request by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu in a closed door meeting at the party's state head quarter.

'' This morning I talked to my ministerial colleague Subash Chakraborty following a request by Mr Biman Basu. I asked him to step aside from CAB elections. He realised and decided not to contest,'' the Chief Minister told the reporters at the Writer's building hours after the meeting.

After the meeting was over Mr Chakraborty, however, had refused to divulge anything to the reporters saying he was not the party spokesman. ''I have told you before that whatever I have to say I will tell you on January 24.'' Tomorrow is the last date for filing nomination for the election being held on February one to fill up the post of president, left vacant following the resignation of Jagamohan Dalmiya.

Mr Chakraborty had made a case for his candidature stating that CAB needed a strong man like him to redress the injustice of BCCI.

He also objected that the policeman should head the sports body.

However, observing that the party should not have a role to play in CAB politics, CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu had categorically stated that he had asked Mr Chakraborty not to contest.

The chain of event led things to the extent of party discipline as CPI(M) state committee made an official statement on Friday last, saying that the minister had been asked to refrain from contesting the CAB poll.

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