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Kolkata, Nov 12 (IANS) Former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress general secretary Partha Chatterjee on Wednesday launched proceedings for his possible political comeback, a day after he was released from judicial custody after more than three years.
He was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths in July 2022 in connection with the crores of rupees cash for school jobs case in the state.
On Wednesday, he issued an open letter to the people of Behala (West) assembly constituency, from where he has been a Trinamool Congress MLA for five consecutive terms since 2001.
In the letter, he raised an impassioned question about whether voters in the constituency believed he had accepted cash from people offering him jobs at the school. He also raised the question whether the voters of Behala (West) believed that some people raised money by promising jobs in his name.
The third emotional question he raised was whether the voters of the area do not feel that those who tried to malign their image should not be spared. He concluded that although he still considers West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as his leader, he wants answers to these questions raised by her.
On Wednesday, Chatterjee also announced that he would participate in the upcoming winter session of the Assembly to be held later this month.
He was suspended from the Trinamool Congress soon after his arrest by ED officials in 2022.
However, if he participates in the winter session as an independent MLA, he will not be able to occupy his old seat allotted to him earlier on the treasury bench as a ruling party MLA.
West Bengal Assembly insiders said Chatterjee will now be allotted a seat somewhere within the treasury and opposition benches.
On Wednesday, he also candidly answered questions from media persons about his relationship with actress Arpita Mukherjee, who was arrested by ED officials in July 2022 in connection with the school-job case after central agency sleuths recovered huge cash and gold from their twin residences.
“I am a widower. My wife passed away long ago. If I have a girlfriend now, who can object to that? If some people can have two wives at a time, why can’t I have a girlfriend now?” Chatterjee was interrogated on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday night, he had written a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking clarification about his suspension from the party after his arrest.
–IANS
Source/UK