Political pot shots have melted into genial generosity over the bust of a beloved leader and teacher in Basirhat.

On Saturday, Trinamul leaders from the Basirhat municipality unveiled a bust of deceased CPM MLA Narayan Mukherjee that had been installed by his communist followers on a piece of land provided inside a park by the ruling party-run civic body.

A large number of Basirhat residents gathered along with Trinamul and CPM leaders at the municipality-owned Suryakanta Park, where the white-stone bust of Mukherjee, who had also been the municipality’s chairman, was unveiled by civic chairperson Aditi Mitra Roy Choudhuri and local Trinamul MLA Saptarshi Banerjee in the presence of his family members and members of a memorial committee named after the departed leader.

The bust was made by Bihar-based artisan Rabi Prasad and cost Rs 65,000, which was borne by the memorial committee, most of whose members are associated with the CPM.

Mukherjee, who had been a teacher of Basirhat High School, had been a father figure in the town.

A veteran CPM leader who played a prominent role in the Food Movement, had been elected uninterrupted eight times as an MLA since 1977. He died on March 2, 2014, before completing his eighth term. Mukherjee was also a councillor for 47 years and became chairman of the Basirhat municipality for one term. His simple lifestyle and down-to-earth nature had endeared him to one and all, including his political opponents.

Sources said that a few years ago the Narayan Mukherjee Smritiraksha Committee had appealed to the municipality for land to install his bust. However, the Trinamul-run civic board rejected the plea. But the current board, also helmed by Trinamul, accepted the request.

The board allotted a piece of land inside the Suryakanta Park, where the bust was installed. The municipality is putting up a shade above the bust.

Memorial committee member Kalipada Das said: “We are thankful to the civic body. It would not have been possible for us to install the bust had the chairperson and the MLA come forward to arrange the land.”

Speaking at the occasion, Trinamul MLA Banerjee, a doctor, said: “Narayan Mukherjee was our teacher. He is for us more than a political leader. It is our moral duty to recognise his contribution and to pay tribute to him. So we decided to join hands with the Smritiraksha Committee to pay respect to him on behalf of the people of the town.”

Civic chairperson Mitra Roy Choudhuri told The Telegraph: “This is a gesture we have learned from Mamata Banerjee. Narayan Mukherjee was an exceptional individual in all respects. He was a widely acclaimed leader who went beyond political barriers and prejudice to work for the people. This is our sincere tribute to him.”

CPM’s North 24-Parganas district committee member Pratap Nath said: “Actually, Narayan Mukherjee is a phenomenon whom no political party can ignore or underestimate. The earlier Trinamul board could not realise this.… We are thankful to the present board as it has rectified the mistake and joined us in paying tribute to the great leader.”