CPM rebel MP basks in Opp attention

As expected, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee met Pramanik, sitting Lok Sabha MP from South 24 Parganas district, at his residence yesterday and the hour-long meeting has already fuelled political speculations.

‘‘We have enjoyed a long relationship and I respect the veteran politician,’’ Banerjee told The Indian Express here this afternoon. While she refused to divulge details of the meeting, she said: ‘‘I agree to what he was trying to do. And things happen slowly.’’

Pramanik had earlier met with leaders of the Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS), a party formed by a breakaway CPI(M) group two years back under Saifuddin Chowdhury. The MP said that ‘‘I would ignore the showcause notice served by the party a few days back. I will not reply to the notice.’’

Admitting that PDS general secretary Samir Putatunda met him at his residence on Saturday, he said that he told Putatunda he’s not joining the PDS or any other party as of now.

‘‘We discussed political issues but we didn’t ask him to join us,’’ said Putatunda. The state CPI(M) leadership, however, has maintained silence over the recent developments.

According to sources, the party headquarters had sent its men to collect a cassette from a local TV channel where Pramanik reiterated his charges of ‘‘misuse of the MPLAD fund for the coming panchayat elections by party leaders at the district level and the organisation being run by an undemocratic coterie.’’