Biswabrata Goswami
CHAPRA, 6 MARCH: Hours after Trinamul Congress suprimo Mamata Banerjee announced the names of 291 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, reports of discontentment and anger trickled in from Chapra assembly area in Nadia today.
Supporters of Trinamul panchayat samity sabhapati Jeber Sheikh blocked roads by torching car tyres on the Chapra – Krishnagar state highway for about an hour from 2.30 pm after Jeber was not given a ticket from Chapra assembly seat which is Muslim dominated.
Miss Banerjee has given a ticket to the sitting MLA Rukbanur Rahman for the second time while Jeber Sheikh expected that his name would be considered this time as he bluntly followed all instructions of the party’s district president Mahua Moitra in the past years.
Hundreds of followers also took out a protest rally saying that Trinamul Congress chief should reconsider her decision and Jeber should be given a ticket from Chapra as he always served for the sake of people during their crisis time and led the party.
Before the agitation, the disgruntled followers conducted a meeting inside a lodge in the area where they put pressure on Jeber Sheikh to contest as an Independent candidate.
Jeber also broke down before the journalists when he was asked whether he would contest as an Independent candidate or desert to other party. Jeber sobbed inconsolably as he said, “I trust on the party suprimo and I believe she will reconsider her decision. If I am denied a ticket, I will do as they want me to do.”
Local residents said Jeber was so shocked after Miss Banerjje announced Rukbanur’s name as a candidate for Chapra seat that he displaced all party flags and festoons from the party office last night before leaving for his house.
When asked Rukbanur Rahman said, “We will solve the matter within a few days.”
