Chief Minister likely to meet Abdur Rezzak Mollah

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Abdur Rezzak Mollah, head of the Bharatiya Nay Bichar Party and former land and land reforms minister of the erstwhile Left Front government.

Last week, Molla had sought an appointment from Banerjee, who agreed to meet him before she left for Delhi.

Party insiders said Mollah might contest the 2016 Assembly polls in Trinamool ticket. It may be recalled that Siddiqulla Chowdhury has already agreed to support Trinamool and Banerjee had addressed a rally organised by Chowdhury last week. The minority base of the party will be strengthened if Molla forms an alliance with the TMC.

Molla was a powerful leader of CPI(M) in south 24-Parganas. He has contacts with grassroots people. He became vocal against the CPI(M) leadership including the former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Molla, a former state committee member of the CPI(M), was expelled from the party one-and-a-half years ago.

Molla said the steps taken by Banerjee to develop the condition of poor Muslims and spread education among the Muslim girls was commendable. 

Molla said Banerjee has become immensely popular among Muslim girls. “All like-minded people should cooperate with her for development of the state,” he said, adding that the Trinamool Congress had worked well in the field of rural electrification in South 24-Parganas. The condition of the roads has improved and remarkable development has taken place in Sunderbans.

Trinamool leaders felt that Molla’s contacts with common men will help the party’s base to grow in the area. “Mollah is keen to work with us and the TMC will be benefited as he can help us to improve our organisational strength in the area,” a TMC leader said.