New minority axis takes shape in Bengal

KOLKATA: Minority leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah met Trinamool MLA Nure Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday morning, fuelling speculation about the possible formation of an axis of minority leaders in the state.
Mollah had earlier met expelled Trinamool leader Humayun Kabir. The developments indicate that several minority leaders of the ruling party perhaps share the grouse of rebel Trinamool MP Mukul Roy that enough has not been done for their development.
On March 8, Roy had accused the Trinamool regime of “shedding crocodile tears” for minority development.
Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee has already asked the party’s disciplinary committee to explore the possibility to taking Mukul to task for his repeated “anti-party” statements. What is to be seen is how the party reacts to the minority grudge that is no longer limited to Roy but has spread to the top rung of her Bengali-speaking Muslim leaders. This is what Mollah is trying to capitalize on.
Chowdhury was not available for comment. However, a close aide said, “Mollah had come to Chowdhury’s house in central Kolkata. It was a courtesy met. Chowdhury is a Trinamool MLA and will remain so.”
Mollah was candid about the meeting. “We are exploring possibilities to deepen our party’s efforts to contest the forthcoming elections. We are also in talks with several Trinamool leaders,” he said.
Both Chowdhury and Kabir were in the Mamata cabinet. Kabir is believed to have promised Mollah that he would share the dais with him on April 24. Chowdhury is yet to decide
Mollah had formed the Samajik Nyaybichar Mancha, a platform targeting the estimated 47% dalits and Muslims in Bengal. This was a Left votebank until it swung to Trinamool in the 2011 election.
The platform has taken the shape of a political party with its election symbol of the rising sun. It will contest 16 seats in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls, contest 14 seats in Beldanga and six in Jangipur.
After tying up with SDPI and Welfare Party of India, the mancha is in talks with Siddiqulla Chowdhury’s AIUDF to contest next year’s assembly polls.
Chowdhury — a former judge — was inducted in the Mamata cabinet as animal resources minister in May 2011. In September 2013, he was shifted to the department of statistics and programme implementation and did not find a place in the cabinet rejig in July 2014.
Chowdhury was again overlooked during the recent changes in West Bengal Minority Development Corporation and West Bengal Public Service Commission. His wife Mumtaz Sanghamitra, a gynaecologist, is a Trinamool MP.
Roy, Mollah and some other leaders are likely to share a public platform soon on the occasion of the inauguration of a book — “Sankhyalaghur Kkhobh” (Grievances of the Minorities). Faruque Ahamed, who is editing the book said. “Roy has given his consent to release the book.”
BJP’s Sidharth Nath Singh said: “These are significant developments. But I won’t comment without verifying facts.”
Mukul Roy’s allegation that TMC is shedding crocodile tears for minority development seems to have opened the floodgates. Minority resentment may be a crucial factor in the polls