The Times of India 11.02.2010
Reservation blow to KMC veterans
The reservation order has come as a blow to political bigwigs cutting across party lines.
Faced with ouster from his safe seat in ward no. 87, Mukherjee may need the blessings of the Trinamool chief to find a new one, observers said.
The draft reveals that out of the 141 wards, 47 have been reserved for women, including three from the Scheduled Caste category. Apart from Mukherjee, other leaders who have to make room for women candidates are mayor-in-council members Faiyaz Ahmed Khan (ward 75) and Tuhin Bera (ward 13), KMC leader of the Opposition Javed Ahmed Khan (ward 66) and Congress municipal party leader Pradip Ghosh (ward 50). Three other wards 37, 102 and 109 have been reserved for women from the Scheduled Caste category. “The party will decide on the next course,” Faiyaz Ahmed Khan said.
Political parties have 14 days to raise objections or make suggestions to the state election commission. Trinamool’s Javed Ahmed Khan said that the draft would have to be carefully studied. “We will look into the suggestions and study the pros and cons. The matter will be discussed with our party leader and then a final call taken,” said Khan.
In the afternoon, Mamata was busy inaugurating a computerised reservation counter at Gariahat when Mukherjee walked in unannounced. His name wasn’t on the list of guests, which included Trinamool leaders like Javed Ahmed Khan and Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay. This is the second instance in recent times when Mukherjee was seen with Mamata, fuelling speculation that he might be trying to mend fences with her.
From 2000-2005, Mukherjee was the mayor of the KMC board run by Trinamool-BJP combine. This time, Congress and Trinamool are together. Mukherjee had parted ways with Mamata, days before the 2005 municipal polls.
Mukherjee claimed that his visit had nothing to do with the election. “This has nothing to do with politics. I stay across the road and this is my locality. She is doing a very good job, so I thought of congratulating her,” Mukherjee said.
State Congress leaders have not been too happy with Mukherjee’s new-found fondness for Mamata.
