Sunday, May 15 2005 16:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Dissent within the Congress over seat allotment for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation took an ugly turn today (May 15, 2005) when a section of partymen heckled WBPCC (West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee) chief and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and attacked journalists at the PCC office in Kolkata.

A group of partymen, led by Ward-55 Block Congress Committee president Swapan Das, was holding a demonstration in front of the PCC office Bidhan Bhavan demanding that Sabita Das, wife of local Congress leader Arun Das, be nominated as the candidate for the ward.

Mukherjee, who was to announce the list of party nominees for elections to the 141-seat KMC, arrived at the PCC office with vice-president Pradip Bhattacharya and another leader around 1230 hrs (IST). As soon as he stepped out of his car, the protesters grabbed him by his kurta, shouting slogans in support of their demand and hurling invectives.

Security-men immediately cordoned off Mukherjee and led him into the office.

The protesters also asked newsmen to boycott Mukherjee's press conference. When they refused, a section of the protesters rained blows on them, seriously injuring the senior journalist of a Bengali daily in the eye.

Mukherjee's press conference, which was scheduled at 1300 hrs (IST), began more than 30 minutes later.

When asked about the incident, Mukherjee said it was "unfortunate," but added that "such things could happen."

Former PCC chief Somen Mitra, who was also present at the press conference, said that the incident was an indication of the demand for a Congress ticket.

While Mukherjee said he had 'nothing to do' about the attack on journalists, PCC vice-president Pradip Bhattacharya, however, apologised for the attack.

Meanwhile, Swapan Das, who led the agitation, claimed that the West Bengal Unnayan Congress Manch, an ally of the Congress, was trying to field its candidate Taniya Chatterjee in ward-55.

"The candidate they are trying to field is an outsider. We would have liked Arun Das to contest the seat since he is a popular local leader. But, since this seat is reserved for women, we want his wife Sabita Das to contest."

A section of local Congressmen said they have already completed wall writing seeking votes for Sabita Das. "Under no circumstances will we do any re-writing even if there is a change of candidate."

Ward-55, under which the PCC office falls is currently held by the BJP.