‘Tis the season of defections in Bengal. At a time when the Trinamool Congress has been unravelling like a pack of cards after losing the elections, its Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra has created a flutter with her unusual praise for Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. In an interview with the BBC, Moitra, seen as a staunch Mamata Banerjee loyalist, said she shared an “emotional connection” with Adhikari, despite their different political paths.
The remarks by Moitra, among Mamata’s shrinking band of loyalists in the TMC’s parliamentary wing, have stirred fresh speculation in Bengal’s political circles. Mamata is already battling for control of the TMC with the rebel camp of MLAs led by Ritabrata Banerjee. In Parliament, the TMC has been dealt a severe blow after 20 Lok Sabha MPs merged with the obscure Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) to back the ruling BJP.
‘SUVENDU SUPPORTED ME A LOT’
Against this backdrop, the timing of Moitra’s praise for Adhikari has raised eyebrows. She also shared this excerpt from her interview on X.
“At a personal level, I have had a very good relationship with Suvendu Adhikari. When we were in the TMC together, he supported me a lot,” Moitra said.
She then went on to recall how Suvendu supported her during a difficult phase in her political career. Moitra said she was upset when she was denied a Lok Sabha ticket in the 2014 polls.
“In 2014, I was supposed to get a Lok Sabha ticket, but I did not get it. I cried the whole night. At that time, Suvendu was there to reassure me,” the Krishnanagar MP said.
The fiery TMC leader started her electoral journey from Karimpur, which she won in the 2016 Bengal Assembly polls. Then, a political greenhorn, Moitra said no senior TMC leader campaigned for her. However, Adhikari was there at her first rally.
“When I first contested from Karimpur, no one came to campaign for me. The first rally was done by Suvendu Adhikari. Even today, you can see the pictures – Suvendu and I were the only ones there,” Moitra said.
Adhikari left the Trinamool in 2020 amid differences with Mamata Banerjee and the growing influence of the young guard under her nephew Abhishek. He later joined the BJP, leading it to a decisive win in this year’s Bengal polls.
Moitra admitted that they no longer speak frequently, but insisted that personal relationships transcend party lines.
“Suvendu has moved to another party today, so we do not talk anymore. But I cannot forget the help he gave me,” Moitra said.
The remarks come at a time when Mamata has been struggling big time to keep her flock together. Moitra was included by Mamata in the national working committee of the party.
The rebel MLAs, on the other hand, replaced Mamata as TMC chairperson and stripped Abhishek of his post as national general secretary. They also approached the Election Commission (EC) to stake a claim to the party name and symbol.
MAHUA MOITRA ON WHAT SEPARATES BJP FROM TMC
In a cryptic remark, Moitra also ‘thanked’ Suvendu for what she described as the “purification” of the Trinamool. She claimed that what Mamata could not do was done in a single day by Suvendu and the BJP.
“Mamata likes to maintain a personal equation with TMC leaders. The party’s failing has been that it adjusted all leaders, even those who are rubbish and useless. Mamata should have reviewed whether these leaders could have won elections on their own,” Moitra said.
The rebel camp claims to have the support of around 60 of the 80 TMC MLAs. Even senior leaders like Aroop Biswas and Firhad Hakim, two of Mamata’s fiercest loyalists till only days ago, have joined the rebel bloc.
Moitra then went on to underline what separates the BJP from the Trinamool. “The BJP has a strong cadre, functions systematically, and has a clear Hindutva ideology. The party is not dependent on a single person,” the Lok Sabha MP said.
On speculation about a possible merger of the TMC with the Congress, Moitra said that ideologically, the party has always been closer to Congress, but dismissed the rumours.
“The TMC is not going to merge with the Congress. There is absolutely no truth in such reports,” she said.
While there is no indication that Moitra is contemplating jumping ship, her praise and warm recollections of Adhikari have fuelled fresh speculation in Bengal’s charged political landscape.
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