Pranab Mukherjee's son to enter Bengal politics?

Suri (WB): A meeting attended by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's son, Abhijit, has set off speculation in political circles on whether he would plunge into politics by being a Congress candidate in the assembly

elections in West Bengal scheduled next year.

What fuelled the speculation was Mukherjee attending a meeting on November 3 at Nalhati in Birbhum district, about 70 km from here, at which Congress leaders and workers were present.

Birbhum DCC president Asit Mal said though it was a goodwill meeting after Eid and Bijoya Dasami organised by a non-political organisation, party workers and leaders present declared in one voice that Mukherjee should be the candidate from Nalhati constituency in the assembly elections.

"The party workers and leaders were happy that Abhijitbabu was among them and wanted him to be a candidate in the coming assembly elections," Mal told PTI.

WBPCC chief Manas Bhunia, when asked, said he would be happy if Abhijit decided to contest the assembly elections.

"We are looking for good candidates and he is from a political family and inherits the Congress culture. He is a citizen of India and can contest," he said.

Bhunia, however, said that there was no discussion in the party on this.

Abhijit Mukherjee, who is general manager, corporate social responsibility, SAIL, however, did not state clearly whether he wanted to join politics.

"It is true that workers and leaders have expressed their views. It is natural because they know me well because of my father who is in politics for the last 40 years," Mukherjee told PTI.

"But I am not a political worker or leader attached to any party. You should wait for some time to write something about me as a politician," the 48-year-old Mukherjee said.

"Both my father and grandfather have dedicated their lives to politics. A politician is considered by people as a person who will look after their needs. My father is no exception. People know what he has done for their development. The people might have a lot expectation from me as the son of

Pranab Mukherjee," Mukherjee, who received his mechanical

engineering degree from Jadavpur University in 1984, said.

Mukherjee, who had served SAIL for the last 22 years, said he had been brought up in a political environment. "Though I am not directly involved in politics and not averse to politics, I know very well what it is."

He, however, reiterated, "I should not comment on such matters because I have not yet joined any political party. I honour (the views) what the Congress party workers and leaders have expressed. In my present position I am closely attached to development work for the common people."

The Birbhum DCC president said that if Mukherjee was elected from Nalhati the people of the district would witness an abundance of development work.