Last Updated:
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee described the rebel MPs as “traitors” whose decision to join the BJP showed that they were just hungry for power.
TMC MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Kirti Azad at a press confernece. (AITC/Facebook)
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the embattled Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on dissident MPs for attempting to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying they had “betrayed the voters of Bengal.”
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, who was appointed as the Chief Whip of the parliamentary wing, described the rebel MPs as “traitors” whose decision to join the BJP was clear evidence that they were just hungry for power. He also challenged them to go to their constituencies, saying they won’t be able to face the people.
These remarks came as the TMC, already facing a deepening crisis with a series of resignations, defections and public displays of dissent in the aftermath of its crushing electoral defeat, was dealt another blow when TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar announced that 20 MPs have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking to join the NDA.
What Did Mamata Faction Say?
“The names of those who had reportedly signed the letter have not been revealed. We want to know why the letter has not been made public. Who signed that letter? However, it is clear that these MPs went to Bhupendra Yadav’s house, which means that they have joined the BJP,” Kalyan Banerjee said at a press conference.
Banerjee slammed the rebel MPs, saying they had once heaped praises on Mamata Banerjee and had now chosen Prime Minister Narendra Modi as their leader. He also said that the BJP would not accept any of the rebel MPs.
“They don’t have any political morality. They went to Bhupendra Yadav’s residence, and when Suvendu Adhikari came to discuss the matter, it was clear that they had decided to join the BJP. People are not fools; they are watching everything,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kirti Azad challenged the rebel MPs to resign and contest on a BJP ticket. “Our 29 leaders won in the name of ‘Maa, Maati and Maanush’ and became MPs. I want to know from these traitors – why did you speak about your difficulties after the election, why not before it? Sukhendu Sekhar Roy at least had the political ethics to resign. If you also have political ethics, then you all resign too and contest on a BJP ticket,” he said.
RG Kar Incident
Kalyan Banerjee further accused the BJP of politicising the RG Kar Hospital Rape-Murder incident, where a 31-year-old postgraduate resident doctor was raped and murdered in 2024. He asserted that Mamata Banerjee stood by the victim’s family, while the BJP politicised the matter.
The incident triggered widespread protests across West Bengal and emerged as a major source of friction within the TMC, with several leaders expressing dissatisfaction over the party’s handling of the situation.
Former Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who resigned from the party on Monday, claimed he had protested against alleged attempts to tamper with evidence in the RG Kar incident. Roy further alleged that instead of addressing his concerns, authorities responded by issuing him a police summons.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
