Asansol, May 4: A political show of strength played out at an Asansol multiplex as the audience stayed glued to the screen showing Bahubali 2.

Asansol mayor and Trinamul MLA Jitender Tiwari had invited councillors and their families across party lines for the Prabhas-starrer blockbuster yesterday. As the 4.30pm show ended, the turnout left little room for doubt that the mayor had passed what many in his party termed a "floor test".

"When I became the MLA last year, some party councillors had requested me to organise a celebration.... Bahubali 2 is a super hit movie and everyone who had seen the first part of the movie wanted to know why Katappa killed Bahubali. So I chose the movie to invite all the councillors," Tiwari said.

While the first-time Trinamul MLA tried to pass off the invitation for the second installment of S.S. Rajamouli's magnum opus as an apolitical gesture, party insiders said Tiwari was keen on sending out a message to the rival camp on who held the reins in the industrial town.

Sources said Tiwari headed a faction opposed to the one led by labour minister Malay Ghatak. Their rivalry has not only caused a flutter in the local Trinamul camp but also in the senior leadership, they added.

"Tiwari wanted to let Malayda know that despite all his attempts, he still has full command over the civic body. He proved that with the turnout at the Bahubali 2 show," a Trinamul leader said, adding that 76 of the 85 Trinamul councillors had turned up with their families.

Tiwari, however, did not watch the movie himself because of "preoccupation".

According to multiplex sources, altogether 156 people - including the councillors and their family members - had watched the show.

Tiwari said he had paid for the tickets, each of which cost Rs 90, from his legislator's salary.

While Team Tiwari's strength may fade in front of Bahubali 2's worldwide collection of over Rs 792 crore, Trinamul sources said Tiwari's performance could not be wished away.

"As Asansol is an industrial town, there is a fight between the Tiwari and Ghatak lobby over control of the area.... Tiwari may be the mayor and an MLA, but one cannot forget that Malayda is a minister. Still, Tiwari got so many councillors on his side yesterday," a source said.

Tiwari contested the interpretation.

"I had invited all councillors irrespective of their political colours. There is no faction in our party in Asansol and all of us work together," he said.

Malay Ghatak echoed Tiwari.

But that fissures do somewhat exist in the party became evident with the list of absentees, which included mayoral council member and Malay Ghatak's brother, Abhijit.

"I got a call from the civic body office but couldn't go as I was busy in a family programme," he said.

Another councillor Animesh Das, who is also said to belong to the minister's lobby, skipped the show.

"I cannot waste my time watching a movie for three hours. I always remain busy in work for development," he said.