That’s what happened at an election meeting of CPM’s Dum Dum Lok Sabha candidate (and sitting MP) Amitava Nandi last week, leaving behind an angry, distraught mother.

Bus employee Gopal Rajbanshi, a member of CITU, the CPM’s trade union wing, was killed in 2007 in an alleged gang-war by members of a rival CITU faction. Two years and no arrests later, the CPM suddenly remembered his mother Krishna Rajbanshi on March 13 and decided to call her onto the stage at an election meeting attended by Nandi. There, in full public view, she was handed an “envelope” presented to her as a “cheque for Rs 25,000.”

This was brought to the notice of state chief electoral officer Debasish Sen who said he ordered an inquiry and has sent his report to the EC.

When 'The Indian Express' met the mother, she was furious. “The cheque-distribution ceremony was a fraud,” she said. “There was no cheque, no cash. When I came home and opened the envelope, there was only a letter.”

That letter, signed by Amalendu Chanda, secretary of CITU bus union, says: “After the announcement of the election, because of the model conduct code, we are not able to hand over the promised financial help. After the elections, we will hand over the money.” No amount is mentioned.

“They made it look like they were giving me money. If they could not give me money, why did they call me to the stage?” asked Krishna. Even this promise of help goes against the conduct code, said a state election department official.

When contacted, Chanda said: “There is no question of any bluff. Once the election is over the money will be given. This is not government fund, it’s our money, we will give it to our supporters’ families.”