Swapna dream run in Jakarta, political sop sprint in Jalpaiguri

Ahluwalia greets Swapna’s mother on Saturday.  Picture by Biplab Basak 

TT, Jalpaiguri/Calcutta: Competitive politics is likely to result in a windfall for Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman.

Trinamul and the BJP have been trying to outdo each other in shows of support for the 21-year-old heptathlete, who has risen from humble origins out of Jalpaiguri's Ghoshpara village to leap into the spotlight.

On Saturday, Darjeeling MP and Union minister S.S. Ahluwalia - accused by many of being rarely seen in his constituency - showed up at the Barmans' home with the promise of Rs 30 lakh and a central job for Swapna.

The BJP leader met Basana and Panchanan, Swapna's parents, and lauded their daughter. "The Centre will extend all possible help to Swapna. I also spoke to Union minister (of state) for sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore," said Ahluwalia.

Sources said all Asian Games medallists are to be felicitated in Delhi on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to personally congratulate them on Wednesday. The sources said Swapna is likely to be part of the contingent.

"The Centre is playing catch-up now. The amount of money promised is thrice the sum we pledged but they (the BJP) will never be able to match us. We have backed her since 2013. The BJP and its government have woken up only after Wednesday (when she won)," said a Trinamul source.

Mamata Banerjee seems to have the first-mover advantage: the Bengal chief minister was among the first - at 7.31pm on Wednesday, shortly after Barman won the gold in Jakarta - to congratulate Swapna on Twitter. Her party followed suit, posting pictures of Mamata with the heptathlete from an award ceremony in 2013 when the chief minister had handed then 16-year-old Swapna a Banga Ratna for her achievements in sport.

At 6.43pm on Friday, Swapna replied to Mamata's tweet, saying: "Onek onek dhonnobad (Thank you very, very much) ma'am!!"

On Thursday, Mamata had sent state tourism minister Gautam Deb to the Barmans' home. From Deb's phone, Mamata spoke to Swapna's mother, promising help and support. A day later, the Bengal government decided to give the athlete Rs 10 lakh and a state job.

Mamata is slated to visit north Bengal for three days from Monday and is likely to meet the Barman family.