CALCUTTA, May 30: Isolated and badly squeezed out of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), the Mamata Banerjee loyalists decided to strike back before the rival camp consolidates its gain in the recent organisational election.

Contrary to the speculation that West Bengal Youth Congress president would finally accept defeat and opt out of the party, the Mamata loyalists are preparing themselves to launch a parallel movement against the ruling LF with the ``grass-root party workers'' in the State even if it meant hurting the party bigwigs in Delhi.

According to Mamata loyalists, they might even move Election Commissioner over the charges, their leader has been making against the ongoing PCC election as a last ditch attempt to ``save the party in the State from adhocism and the CPI(M) stooges''.

In an open defiance against the PCC and AICC, Mamata dared both the Central as well as State leadership to take action against her for ``revolting against the PCC''.

However, addressing a rally here yesterday, she washed out all speculation of launching a parallel PCC, but gave enough hints that she was prepared to see if the WBPCC could function without her in the State.

The meeting, which could be an indication of the turbulent days laying ahead of the State Congress, was planned to gauge the grassroot partymen's mood -- if they are with Mamata -- and as a threat to launch a parallel movement with an independent political line. Evidently, the attack which become uninhibited of any fear, grew vitriolic and during her speech she called the new PCC and its leader, Soumen Mitra, whose election to president's post is almost certain, ``a LF and CPI(M) stooge with present AICC bigwigs' blessings''.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.