Pandemonium in Bengal house as Congress leader named PAC chairman

Kolkata, July 4  The West Bengal Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes over the appointment of senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

With aim to further the Left Front-Congress bonhomie, Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan of the Congress had recommended Left Front legislature party leader Sujan Chakraborty, of the CPI-M, for the post.

But rejecting the suggestion, Speaker Biman Banerjee announced Bhunia as the chairman of the PAC, prompting both the Congress and the Left legislators staging a walkout in protest.

The speaker justified the decision saying as he acted as per rules and convention.

He also said Bhunia's name was at the top of the list of members recommended for the post. 

Addressing media persons, Mannan alleged a conspiracy by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"With due clearance from the Congress central leadership, we had suggested Chakraborty's name. But what happened today in the assembly is shameful and unfortunate. This has been done in pursuance of a conspiracy by the chief minister to create a rift between us," he said. 

The Congress subsequently held a meeting where it was decided that Bhunia should resign from the post.

While Bhunia declined a comment on the issue, Congress chief whip Manoj Chakraborty said Bhunia should resign from the post.

Incidentally the development came on a day when a court issued a summons against Bhunia in connection with a murder case.

Bhunia, along with several other Congress activists, have been accused in the murder of a Trinamool supporter Dibakar Jana who was killed in April near Sabang in West Midnapore district.