How many roads will he travel?

Kabir Suman, poet, singer and one-man band (but without a guitar in hand), was walking towards Parliament, preparing to sign the papers that would make him a representative of the people in the Lok Sabha.

A historic moment. Some journalists walked with him to share it. “This is the first time you are entering Parliament. How do you feel?” one of them asked him. Kabir stopped, looked at the Parliament building and then looked at the reporter. “Shotti kotha bolbo?(Shall I tell you the truth?)” he asked, and said, “I’m already bored ... so bored.”

When Suman sent a text message to Trinamool Congress chief Sudip Bandyopadhyay last week, announcing his resignation from the party and the Jadavpur constituency of the Lok Sabha, no one was really surprised. At a musical performance at the India International Centre, Delhi, some months ago, Suman had announced he would never contest an election again. Most wonder why it didn’t happen sooner.

Full report here Business Standard

Mahasweta stalls Suman, party frowns

For a change, Mamata Banerjee may not find Mahasweta Devi’s advice to Kabir Suman requesting him not to resign as MP too palatable.

The Trinamul Congress chief had made it clear to her aides at a meeting in Delhi yesterday that she would rather have the Jadavpur MP out of the party than let him cause further embarrassment.

Mahasweta sent a note to Suman last night urging him not to resign after the MP sent text messages to Mamata and party chief whip Sudip Bandopadhyay expressing his desire to quit both Parliament and party.

Today, the writer said: “Differences between Suman and Trinamul have strengthened the CPM’s hands. I will advise both Mamata and Suman to sit with me and thrash out their differences through dialogue for the greater cause of driving the CPM out of Bengal in 2011.”

Full report here Telegraph