Suman roots for Bratya Basu

KOLKATA: While some preferred to call it the return of the prodigal son, this year’s debut appearance of Trinamool Congress MP Kabir Suman at an election rally in Dum Dum, left many delighted. Suman, who had kicked up several controversies ever since he was elected to the Lok Sabha two years ago, was at the cantonment’s Rail Gate No 3 street-corner meeting to speak in support of Trinamool-backed candidate Bratya Basu.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the meeting, Suman said, "I have come to this political meeting simply because Bratya asked me to. If any other Trinamool leader calls me to campaign for him or her, I will certainly do so." But why is it that he has not been seen campaigning for Trinamool candidates in the assembly constituencies that come under the purview of his Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat? "No one has called me yet. I will do so, if I am asked," he said.
As is expected of Suman, known to be a good orator, he held the audience spellbound throughout his 40-minute speech, which ended again most characteristically with two songs written by him to keep "Mamata Banerjee`s mass movement against the CPM alive".
Suman started off by calling the CPM, "outright cruel", a party that has "annihilated the state".
Appealing to every member of the audience who had gathered to listen to him, Suman said, would you vote for the people who have put a loan of Rs 6 lakh against every baby due to be born in this state? We are bankrupt and in deep financial crisis," he warned. Taking a jibe at chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Suman said, the former`s constituency was reeling under severe water crisis. "I have helped to sing deep tubewells in wards 108 and 109 in his constituency. What was he doing for so many years? In all the seven assembly constituencies that are part of my Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency, I have sunk 150 deep tubewells. Had the CPM been sleeping for 34 years? My dear voters, clean drinking water, roads and electricity are your rights. Stand up and demand them!" he barked.
Referring to his "differences of opinion" with "some" Trinamool Congress leaders in past, Suman said, "In a vibrant democracy, such differences can happen. But Mamata will always remain my leader. She is my leader, she is my country! I am not ashamed to say that I have not seen Che Guevara, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji or Swami Vivekananda, but I have seen Mamata. She is my ultimate truth," he said, voice quivering with emotion.
On that note he picked up the guitar and strummed up a tune, as the audience clapped and cheered.
Bamer Pashe Boshle Siddhakam...Mamatar Pashe Boshlei Badnam !" (They appalaud when you sit with the Left, but they disgrace you when you sit with Mamata.) When he sung his second song, Lyaje Tor Legeche Agun Swarno Lanka Pora ! (Your tail has caught fire, now set Lanka on fire) - another one symbolic of the fall of the "Left brigade), the crowd went berserk and cheered madly. Suman signed off by advising CPM to "gracefully accept defeat." Bratya Basu confessed that people are so fed up with failed promises that they are not willing to let him promise in advance. "I can only say that I will work and if I don`t I will not show my face again," Basu said.
The audience was also entertained by a street play by Aponjon revolving around "CPM backed land grab".