Sting effect tells on CM... TMC supports Harka

TT, March 15: Mamata Banerjee today said Trinamul would support Harka Bahadur Chhetri and not put up any candidate in Kalimpong, in an exception to her policy of making it mandatory for anyone seeking her backing to contest on her party's ticket.

Trinamul had earlier named Chhetri as its candidate for the Kalimpong seat. But the hill leader, who quit the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, had made it clear that he would enter the fray as a nominee of his newly launched outfit, the Jan Andolan Party.

Sources in the ruling party said the chief minister was "stunned" by the Narada tapes and did not want to open a contentious flank at a time she was trying to "come to grips" with the situation.

"In Kalimpong, we will support Harka Bahadur Chhetri. He had asked for support and this is why we are supporting him. We have fielded candidates in 293 seats, but in one seat we have not. This is for the greater interest of the hills," Mamata said at a rally in Kurseong.

Expelled CPM leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah, who has floated the Nyay Bichar Party, and Siddiqullah Chowdhury of the AIUDF had wanted to fight the polls as candidates of their own outfits but with Trinamul support. Their request was not granted and they are contesting as Trinamul nominees.

Chhetri came to Siliguri this morning to meet Mamata and seek her party's support for the Kalimpong seat, but could not meet her. The leader handed over a letter to minister Aroop Biswas, seeking Trinamul's support, and left.

Told that Mamata had agreed to back Chhetri, Rezzak said: "The equations in the hills are different from that in the plains. Things cannot be equated."

An aide of Siddiqullah said: "He wanted to contest under his own party's banner. But Didi made it clear that she would give only one seat and Siddiqullah would have to contest as a Trinamul candidate."

A ruling party leader said Mamata's decision was also influenced by her "realisation" that if she supported Chhetri, he would at least stand a chance of winning. Without Trinamul's support, the Morcha is likely to sweep all three hill seats.