Drawing on the wall: Trinamool MLAs get Didis photo as New Year gift

Trinamool legislators have received a special New Year gift: a framed photograph of a smiling Mamata Banerjee.

The gilded pictures were handed over to all 36 of them in the Assembly by Leader of Opposition Partho Chatterjee,the unspoken message being that it is time Didis portraits adorn their chambers. And he is leading by example being the first to display the portrait in his chamber in Assembly for past few months,and claiming that he got into trouble for his pains.

On Friday,just after the Trinamool legislature party meeting was held at the Assembly conference room,Chatterjee distributed the gift hampers. And he made it clear that he thought there could be no better one for a Trinamool activist.

According to Chatterjee,when he hung Mamatas photo in his room,aggrieved Left MLAs had reported the matter to the Speaker and he had to explain himself. A few days ago,the Speaker asked why I have displayed the portrait of my leader in my chamber, said Chatterjee. I told him if you can exhibit the photo of your leader,late Jyoti Basu,why cant I display Mamata Banerjees photo?

On his part,Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim denied that any such exchange had occurred.

I never asked for a clarification from him. Why I should? said Halim. It is after all,his chamber and it is up to him to display whoever he thinks fit and proper.

A former corporate executive,Chatterjee had left his profession to join Mamatas ranks and is an important spokesman for the party today. Many consider him the second in command after Mukul Roy,the Union minister of State for Shipping.

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The Trinamool legislatures have accepted the gift with proper expressions of gratitude,but it is doubtful that all the photos will hang in their chambers in the Assembly. Some have decided to display it in their drawing rooms at home and others at their local party offices. I am happy to have such a precious gift, said Feroza Bibi,legislator from Nandigram. But we will be happier when we get a photo of her sitting on the chief ministers chair.

Sonali Guha,legislator and a close Mamata aide,said a day will come when the people of Bengal will carry Didis picture around. She is the icon who is on the threshold of removing Marxists from the state. We all should be happy with such a gift, said Guha.