Amid speculations of a split, Trinamool Congress leader Suvendu Adhikari, today, said that he would not say anything irresponsible while being a cabinet minister of West Bengal.
There has been suspense in political circles in the state over the past several months regarding Adhikari's moves. He was the man behind the Nandigram anti-land eviction movement in 2007, which, along with Singur movement, brought Mamata Banerjee to power in 2011.
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Adhikari has been absent from cabinet meetings and from his office of late despite being the transport and irrigation minister of West Bengal.
On November 10, Adhikari had announced that he would inform the people of East Midnapore and Nandigram on November 19 about his future course of action. Within days, on November 17, two senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress (both MPs) met Adhikari in Kolkata and tried to placate him. Sources said he has put several conditions before the party if he is to stay back.
The negotiations seem to be going on still as Adhikari refused to spell out his future course of action, and ended his address earlier than expected. But he queered the pitch with a cryptic remark. “In a political family, there can be difference of opinion which can create division and finally separation. But I am not irresponsible to do something unethical. I am still part of the cabinet and the chief minister has not expelled me and nor have I leave the party,” he said.
Adhikari’s father, Sisir, is a veteran TMC leader and an MP. He is still with the party and has refused to leave it. However, Adhikari’s brother Dibyendu, who too is an MP, has been skipping party affairs recently.
Sources said that the political undercurrent in West Bengal is forcing the brothers to think otherwise. Also, some quarters said that they are not happy with the way poll strategist Prashant Kishor is controlling the party. Kishor has been tasked with devising strategy for TMC after the reverses faced by the party in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
By holding party meetings without displaying the TMC flag or pictures of Mamata Banerjee, which is mandatory in the party, Adhikari has sent out a loud and clear message to the CM. Party insiders said that by running a 'parallel organisation' in east Midnapore, he has thrown an open challenge to Banerjee's status as the supreme leader in the party.
The party, however, has chosen to dismiss the speculations of the rift. “There is no rebellion in TMC and the party is united,” said Chandrima Bhattacharya, state minister and TMC spokesperson.
Adhikari's actions, however, have not gone down well with several TMC leaders. Said Akhil Giri, a member and senior leader of TMC in Nandigram: “Who told you he was the leader of Nandigram movement? The leader was always Mamata Banerjee.”
The Congress believes that if he chooses to leave TMC, he will soon find himself in legal trouble. “The moment Suvendu leaves TMC, he would be slapped with several criminal cases,” said Congress state president Adhir Chowdhury at a press meet today. He was referring to the accusation against Adhikari of taking bribes during the Narada sting operation which is being probed by the CBI. The CPI(M) has often questioned the BJP about the delay in investigation.
There are no clear indications yet whether Adhikari would float his own party or join the BJP. He had said that he would resign as minister before he takes any decision on his political future. TMC, meanwhile, is trying its best to keep Adhikari in its fold.