CALCUTTA: The State Congress Committee has shrugged off the likelihood of Siddartha Shankar Ray’s return to State politics in view of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Though Ray (now in New Delhi on an official visit) is currently serving his second term as ambassador to the United States of America, speculations are rife in local political circles that Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao may ask him to return to the State to direct the Congress’ electoral campaign in the coming polls.
Mr. Ray, on his own part, is reported to have shown an interest in staging a comeback.
Most analysts, however, fear that Ray’s return to local politics could spark off a fresh round of infighting within the already faction-ridden State unit, something which the party can ill afford if it hopes to give the CPI(M) a run for its money in the polls.
Ray and the present crop of WBPCC leaders, especially Somen Mitra, have traditionally been at daggers drawn with each other. Asa sworn loyalist of AB Ghani Khan Chowdhury, the veteran strongman from Malda, Mitra had never seen eye to eye with Ray. Squabbling within the party’s ranks had consequently reached its apogee during his tenure, WBPCC sources said that though there was an outside chance of Ray returning to State politics, they had nothing to fear since Mitra was too well entranced as PCC president.
Besides, Mitra’s clout had grown enormously after the party’s gains in the recent municipal polls.
Some colleagues opine that Ray was incapable of assuming a position of leadership since he had little or no interest in party work, but always made himself available whenever. there was a power vacuum.
Sources felt that the situation this time is vastly different. While Ray’s arch loyalists like State YC chief Mamata Banerjee, MLA Saugata Roy, and P.R. Dasmunshi stand sidelined Mitra has struck key alliances with powerful Union Ministers like Pranab Mukherjee and Ajit Panja.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 1, 1995
