Bhunia accepts PAC chairman's post, party calls meeting

Defying pleas not to accept the post of chairman of the Public Accounts Committee by his party leaders, Congress leader Manas Bhunia today said he had accepted the letter of appointment from the Assembly Speaker and scotched rumour of his leaving the party.
"Today I met the Speaker and accepted the letter of appointment as PAC chairman," Bhunia told a press conference after accepting his appointment letter.
Leader of Opposition and Congress veteran Abdul Mannan and Congress state president Adhir Chowdhury had pleaded with Bhunia not to accept the PAC chairman's post, which they said should go to Sujan Chakraborty of its ally CPI-M.

Bhunia in the press conference accused Mannan of misleading the party "just for the sake of insulting and humiliating me" as, he claimed, it was Mannan who had asked him to file nomination for the PAC.
"Deliberate attempts are being made to insult me and portray me as a villain. When Abdul Mannan had asked me to sign for the nomination for PAC, I had told him that if he is thinking of somebody else as PAC chairman, I should not file nomination, as it would be an insult for me," Bhunia said.
He continued, "I am a six-time MLA and I cannot work under a junior in a committee. Mannan promised me that nothing of such sort would be done, which would amount to my insult. After his assurance only I decided to file the nomination."

"But Mannan deliberately insulted me. No CLP meeting was held after June 17, so how come Mannan is saying that the decision was taken at a CLP meeting in favour of Sujan Chakraborty. He has even informed PCC president Adhir Chowdhury that CLP has taken the decision in favour of Sujan Chakraborty, which is absolutely false," Bhunia alleged.

He said he had also informed deputy Congress legislative party leader Nepal Mahato and Congress chief whip Manoj Chakraborty that his name should be withdrawn from the list of PAC nomination, if Mannan has decided to support Sujan Chakraborty.
"Both of them told me that they will inform Mannan about it. But nothing was done to withdraw my name. The Speaker announced my name as PAC chairman as the post goes to main opposition party. So what is my fault, what anti-party activity did I do? I am being insulted and humiliated deliberately," Bhunia said.

When asked to comment about reports of him leaving the party, Bhunia said "I am a loyal soldier of the party and I can't satisfy the leaders who want me to leave."
State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury has called a meeting of party legislators and leaders tomorrow. Bhunia said he would not be able to attend since he would be out of station.
Meanwhile, unhappy with Bhunia's appointment as PAC chairman, the Bengal unit has informed the high command of his "anti-party" activity and once again urged him to resign from his post.