Rebel MLA quits TMC party posts

Ghoshal compares Shubhendu Adhikari’s popularity with that of Mamata

Kolkata: Rebel Trinamul Congress MLA of Uttarpara in Hooghly, Prabir Ghoshal, on Tuesday publicly quit his two party posts, alleging a section of party leaders’ attempt to ensure his defeat in the coming Assembly Election. He also praised newly-inducted BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari’s popularity.

Rebel Trinamul Congress MLA of Uttarpara, in Hooghly, Prabir Ghoshal on Tuesday publicly quit his two party posts, alleging that a section of party leaders was attempting to ensure his defeat in the coming West Bengal Assembly election.

He also compared newlyinducted BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari’s popularity with party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Within a few hours of Ghoshal’s public resignation, the TMC issued him a showcause notice.

In the morning the journalist-turned MLA told the media, “I have lot of grievances which were not addressed. After Lok Sabha polls, I repeatedly alerted the party of a disease like cancer infecting the rank and file. But there was no response. Rectification is needed in the party because good men cannot work here amid bad faces. Otherwise party will have to pay the price.” He said, “I once thought I would resign as an MLA but I did not do it because common people need MLA’s signature for their “purposes.” I now feel isolated in the party and hence resign as a district TMC core committee member and spokesperson. The day MLA Laxmi Ratan Shukla quit our party, I told the CM that it is better for me not to contest the election in view of the problems in Uttarpara constituency. She then asked me to fight the polls from any other seat, if needed.”

Ghoshal claimed, “After Banerjee, if there was someone popular and important like her in the

TMC that was Shubhendu. He should have been retained. But there was gap in efforts. Otherwise Shubhendu would not have defected to the BJP.”

He also complained that he was not invited to the CM’s rally at Purshura on Monday. Stung by his explosive outburst, the TMC showcaused and cautioned Ghoshal in the afternoon, suspecting his secret link with the BJP. He, however, rejected the possibility of his rapport with the saffron party.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shubhendu Adhikari on Tuesday claimed that more MLAs will desert the TMC in the coming days and wondered whether West Bengal Chief Minister will contest from their seats as well.

The Chief Minister has announced that she will contest from Nandigram seat, of which Adhikari was the sitting MLA, besides her Bhowanipore constituency after the former transport minister in Banerjee’s cabinet quit the ruling party in the state, sparking an exodus of TMC leaders to the BJP.

“Banerjee has announced that she will contest from Nandigram seat where she will be trounced. Besides, her vote share in Bhowanipore constituency has also shrunk drastically since the 2019 elections. The TMC supremo may also declare in the coming days that she will contest from Domjur or Bally seats. But, wherever she goes, she will face the music,” Adhikari said addressing a public meeting.

The TMC turncoat claimed that “lotus will bloom” in the entire Adhikari family by Ram Navami and even in the Banerjee household by midFebruary.