CPI(M) asks its Minister not to contest CAB poll

Kolkata, Jan 17 (UNI) In a significant move, the CPI(M) in West Bengal today officially asked state Sports Minister Subhash Chakraborty not to contest the CAB election.

The party's state Secretariat, which met here to take up the issue, was unanimous that the Cricket Association of Bengal election should not be a concern for the party, and Mr Chakraborty, who had announced his candidature for the post of president, must not go ahead.

''The party or the government is not linked with the CAB presidential election. Mr.Subhash Chakraborty has been asked not to contest,'' a brief statement, issued by the state Secretariat said.

The State Secretariat meeting was attended among others, by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and veteran leader Jyoti Basu.

The development came two days after CPI(M) state Committee Secretary Biman Basu categorically stated that he had asked Mr Chakraborty not to contest the CAB election, even though the Minister asserted that he would.

City Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, who had enjoyed direct support from the Chief Minister to narrowly lose the battle against former president Jagmohan Dalmiya in the last CAB election in July, announced his candidature this time also. But Mr Chakraborty contended that a policeman should not head a sports body. Defending his deicision to contest the poll, the Minister said the CAB required a strong man to redress the injustices being meted out to it by the BCCI.

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