Kolkata: Discontentment within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal is growing by the minute. Senior MP Sunil Mandal and Asansol civic body chief Jitendra Tiwari came out Wednesday in support of disgruntled party leader Suvendu Adhikari. They blamed the party for not addressing the grievances on time as a sense of drift has crept in. Two-time Bardhaman Purba Lok Sabha MP Mandal was the first to hit out. He came out in support of Suvendu Adhikari and criticised the party leadership for not doing enough in controlling the infighting and corruption within it.
“Suvendu Adhikari is a good leader and has a strong mass base. It will adversely impact TMC in polls if he deserts it. There is a drift in the party,” Mandal said. “There are a lot of problems in the party and the leadership has failed to address it. The party leadership is saying old-timers and newcomers have to work together. But nothing has happened in this regard,” the MP said. Mandal said he has known Adhikari for a long time and he will continue to be in touch with the latter.
Posters of the two leaders have come up in Mandal’s constituency with an appeal to join the TMC heavyweight.
Tiwari on the other hand recently slammed the West Bengal government for depriving the industrial town of Asansol of central funds for political reasons. He lauded Adhikari as the second most important mass leader after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.
Also read: TMC heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari resigns as MLA
Tiwari while addressing a rally fuelled speculations by saying this might be his last address as Paschim Bardhaman district party unit chief.
“Whoever is saying anything or expressing his grievances about the party (TMC) are being asked to leave. Suvendu Adhikari is the second most important mass leader after party supremo Mamata Banerjee. But he too had grievances. When I expressed my problems, I was told to join BJP by Minister Firhad Hakim,” he told the gathering.
“Who is Hakim to tell me whether I should leave the party or not? … This might be my last address as district unit chief. Even if I quit my post, I will continue to work for the people,” added Tiwari.
After expressing his grievances against the state government Monday, Tewari skipped a rapprochement meeting convened by the leadership to iron out differences between him and Hakim. According to sources, Tiwari is likely to meet Banerjee in Kolkata on December 18.
The development comes amid increasing dissent within the TMC as West Bengal goes to polls early next year. It will certainly affect the party’s chances if the leadership does not take appeasing steps promptly.
Many leaders have alleged that they are unhappy with the way Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee is functioning. They have also said that they are not ready to take orders from vote strategist Prashant Kishor.