Tamluk, Dec. 29: The Nandigram block committee of Trinamul today showcaused a leader who had played a key role in the 2007 anti-land acquisition protests and expelled an aide, a day before Mamata Banerjee holds a meeting with leaders from the two Midnapores.

Trinamul sources said Mamata was likely to tell leaders of the two districts to bury their differences and work together, but added that the steps taken against the duo had again brought to the fore the factional rivalry in East Midnapore.

While Sheikh Sufian, the zilla parishad saha sabhapati and Trinamul state committee member, has been showcaused, his aide Atanu Jana, the pradhan of the Samsabad gram panchayat in Nandigram, has been expelled. Jana has been accused of corruption in the 100-day job scheme and Sufian, of aiding him.

The decisions on Sufian and Jana were taken at a meeting held at Trinamul's Nandigram block-I office. The meeting was presided over by Meghnath Pal, the party's Nandigram-I block president, and Abu Taher, the local panchayat samiti sabhapati. Sufian skipped the session.

While Sufian and Jana are said to belong to the camp of MLA Akhil Giri, Pal and Taher are close to MPs Sisir and Subhendu Adhikari. The Adhikaris and Giri do not see eye to eye.

Sufian said he was showcaused because he had objected to a no-confidence motion brought by a section of Trinamul leaders against Jana on Friday. 'Outsiders were brought to vote in favour of the motion. I was showcaused for protesting this,' Sufian said.

Giri questioned the move to showcause Sufian. 'How can a block committee take action against a state committee member? This is a joke,' he said.

East Midnapore Trinamul president Sisir refused comment.

Asked about the showcause served on Sufian, Trinamul secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said: 'I am not aware of this. There are many Shiekh Sufians in our party.'