Kolkata : At a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing internal problems after its election defeat, party MP Mahua Moitra has surprised many by praising West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Moitra said she shares an “emotional connection” with Adhikari despite the two now being in different political camps. Her comments have sparked fresh political speculation in West Bengal.
A rebel group of MLAs led by Ritabrata Banerjee has challenged her leadership. At the national level, the party has also suffered a setback after 20 TMC Lok Sabha MPs joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) and extended support to the BJP. Speaking about Adhikari, Moitra said they had a good relationship when both were in the TMC. “At a personal level, I have had a very good relationship with Suvendu Adhikari. When we were in the TMC together, he supported me a lot,” she said.
“I was supposed to get a Lok Sabha ticket in 2014, but I did not get one. I cried all night. Suvendu was the person who comforted and encouraged me,” she said. She also remembered her first Assembly election campaign from Karimpur in 2016. According to Moitra, no senior TMC leader came to campaign for her at the time, but Adhikari stood by her.
Adhikari left the TMC in 2020 following differences with Mamata Banerjee and the growing influence of her nephew Abhishek Banerjee within the party. He later joined the BJP and became one of its key leaders in West Bengal. Moitra said they no longer speak regularly because they belong to different parties, but she has not forgotten the support he gave her in the past.
Her remarks come at a difficult time for Mamata Banerjee, who is facing increasing challenges from rebels within the party. Although Moitra remains one of Mamata’s trusted leaders and is a member of the TMC’s national working committee, her comments have drawn attention because of the current political situation.
Meanwhile, rebel MLAs have removed Mamata Banerjee from the post of party chairperson and stripped Abhishek Banerjee of his role as national general secretary. They have also approached the Election Commission seeking control of the TMC’s name and election symbol.
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