Kolkata: West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra comes out of SSKM hospital after he was granted bail in Kolkata, on Nov 1, 2015. (Photo: IANS)
Kolkata, Feb 24 (IANS) Jailed in the Saradha scam, Trinamool Congress MLA and former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra on Wednesday said it was his party's prerogative to decide on his contesting the upcoming assembly polls.
He averred that the Mamata Banerjee government would retain power in the state.
"(Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee's record of development is akin to the unbeatable records of Sachin Tendulkar. So the people of Bengal will repose their faith on her again and the Trinamool will come back to power with at least 225 seats," said Mitra.
"I am a Trinamool MLA and go by whatever it decides. If the party says I will contest the polls and if it says no, I won't contest. Mamata Banerjee words are last, whatever she decides will be the best," added Mitra whose judicial custody on the day was extended by a city court till March 9.
Mitra also ridiculed the opposition CPI-M led Left Front and the Congress' bids to forge an electoral understanding, dubbing it an "alliance for notes (money) and not for votes".
Indicted by the CBI in the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam, Mitra has been behind bars since his arrest December 12, 2014 barring a brief period in October 2015 when he was granted bail by a lower court. The relief subsequently was cancelled by the Calcutta High Court.
There have been speculations on whether the Trinamool would field the jailed Mitra in the assembly polls.
Although party MP Saugata Roy in January had declared during a meeting that Mitra would contest from Ahis Kamarhati Assembly seat in North 24 Parganas district, the part later said no decision on ticket distribution has yet been taken.
