Title - Congress gears up for prestige fight in Rejinagar

BEHRAMPORE: By the time the date for the assembly by-elections at Rejinagar in Murshidabad was announced on Friday evening, the Congress had already started preparations in the district. Minister of state for railways and district Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury had already held a meeting to discuss strategy to take on the Trinamool Congress in what promises to be a prestige fight, both for the Murshidabad strongman as well as his party.Chowdhury has vowed not to allow Mamata to gain a foothold in his district but this time round the Trinamool seems to have pulled out an ace from its sleeve by fielding Humayun Kabir, a former confidante of Chowdhury. Kabir was the sitting MLA from Rejinagar before he resigned and switched sides to the Trinamool less than a couple of months ago.Kabir still considers Chowdhury to be his political 'guru'. He confided to TOI on Friday that the Rejinagar by-poll will be a 'battle between a 'guru' and his shishya (disciple)'. Political observers wondered whether this prestige fight will aid the Left in claiming the seat. The Left has considerable strength in Rejinagar, they pointed out.Chowdhury, meanwhile, didn't sound his normal confident self when asked about the by-election. "The Trinamool is keen to destabilize the Congress in this district. Preparations have started and we will give a fight at Rejinagar. The name of the Congress candidate will be declared in a couple of days," he said.Chowdhury, in his capacity as the minister of state for railways, has already set up computerized reservation centres at Rejinagar and announced upgradation at Bazarsau station, which falls in the constituency. He has also commenced work on doubling of the Katwa-Azimgunj section.Kabir, meanwhile, has announced the construction of roads in the constituency. Observers wonder whether this battle will result in some development of the backward area.When asked about the ongoing imbroglio involving Governor M K Narayanan's statements, Chowdhury said: "I don't understand why the state government should react in this manner. When President Pranab Mukherjee said that there should not be any more rapes in 2013, was he speaking against the Congress government in the Centre?" he said.He criticized the state for alleged attack on minorities. According to him, the police are arresting Congress workers on false charges by placing heroin and fake Indian currency notes in their possession.