Rebel TMC MLA surprised his 'confidential' letter was leaked

Rebel Trinamool Congress MLA Jitendra Tiwari expressed surprise that his “confidential” letter to West Bengal Urban Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim was leaked to the media.

Speaking to THE WEEK, Tiwari said, “I am surprised. I am not the one who leaked it.” When asked why he sent a letter without discussing it at the party level, Tiwari said, “Please excuse me. As the letter itself is confidential, I would not make any comment. But I reiterate that the letter was not meant to be leaked.”

Tiwari, who is also the chairman of the board of administrators of Asansol corporation and also the TMC district president, is considered a party heavyweight in the coal belt of West Bengal. The CBI has been conducting raids against the kingpin of the coal mafia, Anup Majhi, who is considered close to the ruling TMC. The CBI is currently investigating the money trail from illegal mining and its beneficiaries.

Hakim, meanwhile, said, “This should have been discussed at the administrative level. His letter was not intended.”

However, sources close to Tiwari said the leader, in the letter, had accused the Mamata Banerjee government of denying Asansol funds from the Centre under the Smart City Mission project, because of political reasons.

“And he was not even heard by the party. His patience ran out finally,” said a TMC leader in Asansol.

Many BJP leaders welcomed the “expose” made by Tiwari.

“Great that at last leaders like him understood what harm they made to the people of West Bengal,” said Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is in charge of the BJP in West Bengal.

BJP MP Babul Supriyo, known to be a Tiwari baiter, also appreciated the change of mind of the TMC leader.