West Bengal, 18th November: A Trinamul Congress leader from Tamluk Municilaplity of Purba Medinipur district called on Bengal transport minister Suvendu Adhikari amid murmurs that the meeting was held to break the ice with the 49-year-old who has been making his discontent with the party leadership clear for the past few months.
Suvendu’s comments and his prolonged absence from cabinet meetings and party programs since May have fueled speculation that he is all set to chart a different political path for himself.
As per the conversation between the two, it is clear that Suvendu asks the leader to stay with TMC and fight for the party.
“Just stay silent for a few days. I am not disturbing the party. I just want to say that trust me and be clear. It will be your choice where you want to stay. We will stay with the symbol, say this on the local store to spread the news. We can’t talk about the party. I hold a post at the party. I have an MP at my house. You have to think about the family as well. I might stay anywhere but I have to respect Didi at any cost. Didi will always be Didi. She is serving the nation for 40 years,” said Suvendu overall.
The attempts to retain Suvendu amid intense speculation over his joining the BJP or floating a new platform aligned to the NDA are increasingly becoming a crucial consideration for Trinamul, as discordant voices from the party are now emerging in the public space.
The minister said that he always respect Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) as she is the reason for his success in politics.
“Join the party in 1999 and has been the MLA since 2001, 2 MLAs in 2006, 2 MPs in 2008 where will you get all these? That is what I want to say that we have reached this position just because of Didi. We are trying our best. We have decided everything in the meeting held in Nandigram. Now if Mamata didi stands from Nandigram then everyone will join her. You are the MP of an area, so think who will look at the area after Amphan. It is your responsibility to look after,” Adhikari added.
He also asks the Tamluk leader to spread the news that no one is against the symbol.
Suvendu Adhikari said “Just forget about the job. Suddenly, they ask Milan to handle Haldia. Milan sent people to jail whoever doesn’t listen to him. We don’t want all these. I am here at the party for so many years. You answer them that ‘Dada is there with Didi.’ Everyone has to stand together.”
Suvendu did not stay to meet Kishor, who paid a visit to the Adhikari residence in Contai on November 13. The strategist spoke to Sisir Adhikari, the 79-year-old patriarch of the political family.
The situation now, with leader after leader making public statements against PK — Cooch Behar South MLA Mihir Goswami, Sitai MLA Jagadish Barma Basunia, and Hariharpara MLA Niamot Sheikh only on Monday and Tuesday — demands firefighting from the very top.
