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With West Bengal Fisheries Minister Kiranmoy Nanda in its fold, the Samajwadi Party, which is holding its three-day national executive meet at a five-star hotel in the city from May 21, is spoilt for choice with senior officials and ministers all too willing to make it a smooth sailing for the party.
While the meet will begin at the Park from May 21, the same day, an SP workers’ union meeting will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium, where the formal merger of the Samajwadi Party and Paschimbanga Socialist Party led by Nanda, who is now SP general secretary, will be announced by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The Fire department has promptly waived the mandatory charge of Rs 5,000 that is collected from anyone using the indoor stadium for a function. Incidentally, R P S Kahlon, the principal secretary in charge of Fisheries, holds the additional charge of fire services. The Sports department has also lent a hand. On a request from Nanda, Minister for Sports Kanti Ganguly waived the rent of indoor stadium, which is Rs 3.25 lakh, using his using his discretionary powers. The SP will now pay a nominal Rs 11,000 for the hall.
All this while the party is willing to foot a hefty bill its meet at the Park, where 72 delegates will be staying for four days. The party will also have to pay for hiring a hall which is going to be used as the main venue for its meet. The minimum tariff of a room at The Park is Rs 12, 000. Sports department officials say the minister can use his discretionary powers in waiving the rent for the Netaji Indoor Stadium. “Earlier, BJP, SUCI and CITU were also given the concession by the sports minister,” an official said. Nanda says the sports department usually waives the charge of the Netaji Indoor Stadium when a meeting of political party is held there.
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