Abhishek well-wisher ranks swell - Across party lines and border, messages pour in for CM's nephew

The shamiana erected for Trinamul supporters near Belle Vue. (Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya) 

TT, Calcutta, Oct. 19: Political leaders from across the country and neighbouring Nepal have called or texted Mamata Banerjee to ask about her nephew and MP Abhishek, who was injured in a road accident yesterday.

Abhishek, admitted to Belle Vue Clinic in Minto Park, is being monitored by a 14-doctor board. The hospital's chief executive officer Pradip Tondon said the MP had fever and complained of acute body ache and had to be on oxygen continuously.

Wishes have come in from Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and CPM central committee member Mohammad Salim. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu and governor Keshari Nath Tripathi have also asked about the young MP's condition.

Sources in Trinamul said Sonia was among those who reached out to Mamata today. "In a message to Mamata Banerjee, Soniaji stated that her thoughts and prayers are with Abhishek and the family and she are happy to learn that he is stable and responding positively to treatment," a Trinamul leader said.

Some leaders took to Twitter, others called or texted the chief minister. Some political leaders of other parties went to Belle Vue.

"We became a national party last month.... Look at the reaction of the people after Abhishek's accident. Do you need any more proof?" a party insider asked.

A senior Trinamul leader reeled out an alphabet-soup of acronyms. "Besides the top leadership of the BJP, Congress and the Left, there were calls from the JD(S), DMK, AIADMK, TDP, TRS, RJD, JD(U), BJD, LJP, SP, BSP and the National Conference," he said. "It shows how important our party now is in the national scheme of things and how loved Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee are."

State Opposition party leaders were quick to wish speedy recovery for Abhishek.

Given the culture of political intolerance and discourtesy in Bengal over the past few years, the gesture was a change. Inundated by calls and texts on Abhishek's condition, Mamata said: "I didn't know so many people love him so much."

Last night, she issued a statement thanking everyone. "The Trinamul family and us thank people across political parties, from all walks of society... for their deep concern. Thank you all from the national, state, district, block level for expressing your love, affection, concern after the serious accident.... Overwhelmed that you are all praying for his speedy recovery," she tweeted.

While BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha and governor Tripathi were among the first to reach Belle Vue yesterday, Left legislature party leader Sujan Chakraborty and CPM Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee visited today.

Sinha waited for a long time yesterday evening before deciding to leave after he could not get in. But he was escorted inside by Trinamul leaders after Mamata learnt he was at Belle Vue. She later thanked him personally.

Outside the hospital, a shamiana has been erected so visitors can gather there and not on the hospital premises. A register is kept for supporters to pen their get-well thoughts.

Belle Vue CEO Tondon said: "On (October) 19th morning he (Abhishek) underwent an MRI procedure, which confirmed the observation of the CT scan done on (October) 18th. The CT and MRI both confirmed orbital floor fracture." The orbital floor is located below the eye.

"Any decision on surgical intervention shall be made as soon as the acute facial swelling subsides, as per the maxillofacial surgeon's version," he added. Maxillofacial surgeons treat problems related to tissues of the face, mouth and jaws.

During the day, a state forensic team examined the area in and around the accident spot on the expressway. "Prima facie, no indication of a conspiracy or sabotage has been found. It looks like a normal road accident," said a source in the police.

An attempt to murder case has been initiated by Haripal police against "unknown person(s)", on the basis of an FIR lodged by the pilot car's driver Sanat Ray.