Kolkata: The fallout of Suvendu Adhikari joining the BJP is slowly beginning to affect his family. After his brother was sidelined a few days back, Suvendu’s father senior Trinamool Congress MP, Sisir Adhikari is now being divested of his powers. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) brass removed Sisir from his post of East Midnapore district president.
Senior TMC minister Soumen Mahapatra, a known detractor of the Adhikari family, replaced Sisir. The latter was made chairperson of the core committee of the TMC’s district unit, a less important post. The development came a day after Sisir was removed from the post of chairman of Digha-Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA).
TMC MLA Akhil Giri, also a detractor of the Adhikari family, replaced Sishir as the chief of DSDA. In a sign of the widening rift with the TMC, the Adhikaris have been maintaining distance from the party and the government.
“Party supremo Mamata Banerjee has assigned me a responsibility. I will work with Sisirda to strengthen the party in the district,” Mahapatra said.
When contacted, the 80-year-old Adhikari said he is not bothered about the development. “I was the district president since 2006. If they (TMC) felt I was not needed, then it is up to them to decide on it. I have nothing to say,” Sisir said. “All that I can say is that if you cut the chain some reactions are bound to happen. Sisir however, ruled out following his son’s footsteps. “I am too old now to take a new political plunge,” said Sisir.
According to sources, Sisir had told his close associates that he was unhappy with the way party leaders have been attacking his family.
Suvendu switched over to the BJP last month. He later persuaded his brother Soumendu to change sides after he was removed as administrator of the Kanthi municipality.