Rebel Congress leader from West Bengal Manas Bhunia, who had recently caused a flutter in the party by praising Mamata Banerjee as the best chief Minister in the country, could be in for more trouble.

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The high-powered Central Disciplinary Action Committee of the party, headed by senior leader A K Antony, has sought an explanation from Bhunia for his various actions that had seen him at loggerheads with the state Congress as also the state Legislature Party which has suspended him. Highly placed party sources said that in a letter sent to him last week, Bhunia has been given 15 days to explain why action should not be taken against him.

Bhunia, who has been made Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee despite the party not recommending his name for the prestigious post, had fuelled speculation that he could soon jump ship when he showered praise on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. "Mamata is the best Chief Minister in the country who is fighting against communal forces to uphold the federal structure," he had said.

Congress is the main opposition party in West Bengal. It was Bhunia's tiff with the state Congress Legislature Party over accepting the PAC chairman's post which has ultimately triggered his suspension. Bhunia has been sharply critical of both PCC Chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and CLP leader Abdul Mannan.

Striking a belligerent posture, Bhunia had only yesterday said that he would write to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, seeking removal of Chowdhury and Mannan. AICC leaders have been critical of the actions of Bhunia and recall that before the Assembly elections, he was pitching for CPI(M) leader Surjya Kant Mishra as the next Chief Minister.

Trinamool Congress has been making systematic attempts to weaken the Congress by luring its leaders into the partyfold, pary leaders claim. Congress had contested the last Assembly elections in a strategic understanding with the CPI(M)-led Left parties.

In the Assembly elections held before when Left was ousted from power, Congress had sided with Trinamool.