Mamata Banerjee says leaders free to leave Trinamul

Kolkata: Cracking a whip, Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday cautioned her party’s leaders reminding them that she would not tolerate anyone maintaining rapport with the BJP while remaining in her party. 

“Those who want to leave the Trinamul may do so. I will not stop them. But do not keep rapport with the BJP while staying in Trinamul,” sources quoted Ms Banerjee telling the party leaders at the Trinamul core committee meeting at her residence in Kalighat.

In wake of the reports of a section of party leaders’ proximity to the BJP, which reached her on the eve of the upcoming panchayat elections in the state, Ms Banerjee made it clear that none in the Trinamul would be allowed to move with two feet in two boats.

Senior Trinamul MPs, MLAs and minister attended the meeting. The chief minister’s warning came barely a few days ahead of BJP president Amit Shah’s three-day visit to the city. 

It also assumes significance as senior Trinamul MP in Rajya Sabha Mukul Roy has been entrusted for building party’s organisation in Punjab in a surprising move which is seen as his demotion within the party. 

Mr Roy was earlier entrusted for looking after the Trinamul’s organisation in north-eastern states. Recently, he was also removed by the Trinamul Congress from two parliamentary panels. Mr Roy was first relieved from the chairmanship of the parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture.

Later, he was taken off from the parliamentary consultative committee of the home ministry, where he was a member. To boost the morale Trinamul leaders involved in of the Narada case in wake of the death of one of them, Sultan Ahmed, Ms Banerjee claimed that the BJP was using the CBI for political vendetta against her party for its opposition.

According to her, the CBI may call more Trinamul leaders for intimidation which would however not benefit the BJP, sources revealed, adding that she noted that the CBI would not be able to damage her party in Narada case.

Her observation came on a day the CBI grilled Trinamul minister and Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee for the second time within a day.