Former Congress MLAs challenge old party in by-elections

Of the two, Humayun Kabir, who was a loyalist of Union minister and Congress strongman of Murshidabad district Adhir Chowdhury, told reporters, "By-election will be held to the Rejinagar seat from which I have resigned. I challenge that Congress will come third in that by-poll."

"He may be the hero of Behrampore, but in Rejinagar by-election, I challenge him. My fight will be with the Left and Congress will finish third," Kabir, who had joined Trinamool Congress yesterday, asserted.

Another former Congress MLA from Englishbazar in Malda district Krishnendu Nrayan Chowdhury, who was also inducted into the ministry, was indirectly critical of Union minister A H Khan Chowdhury's foreign stint.

"I have not come from abroad. I am grown up in Malda. I never fled from Malda. The people there have seen me".

Yesterday, state industry minister Partha Chatterjee said the induction of the two in the Trinamool Congress would strenghen his party.