In a twist to the turmoil in the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Pandabeswar MLA Jitendra Tiwari, who had resigned from the party on Thursday, said on Friday he had made a mistake.
Since Suvendu Adhikari, a key aide of TMC chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, quit her cabinet last week, the party has been convulsed by internal rumblings. Adhikari resigned from the party earlier this week and three more MLAs, including Tiwari, have followed suit.
Tiwari had complained that the TMC government had ignored development at Asansol. Before he resigned from the TMC, Tiwari had also quit as chief of the Asansol Municipal Corporation.
Late on Friday, Tiwari met senior Trinamool leader Arup Biswas and poll strategist Prashant Kishor in Kolkata, News 18 reported.
“It was my mistake. There were some misunderstandings. Whatever I said it was absolutely wrong on my part. I am told that Didi [Mamata Banerjee] was hurt at my gesture. I cannot do anything that hurts Didi. I will personally meet Mamata Didi and seek her apology. I will continue to work for the Trinamool Congress," Tiwari was quoted as saying by News 18.
"Jitendra Tiwari was, is and will be with the Trinamool Congress. He will fight against the BJP as a loyal soldier of Mamata Banerjee. There are problems in all families, but they can be solved,” News 18 quoted Biswas as saying.
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According to reports, Tiwari's U-turn came amid opposition from BJP leaders to the TMC rebels joining the saffron party. Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Thursday had written on Facebook he would try his best to ensure that TMC leaders who had in the past "tortured" grassroots BJP activists do not get to join his party. West Bengal BJP unit chief Dilip Ghosh had also, reportedly, supported Supriyo's stance.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of TMC leaders on Friday evening, Mamata Banerjee remained defiant.
"Our party supremo during the meeting told us not to be worried about the desertions as it is good that the rotten elements are leaving the party on their own. She said deserters were baggage for the party," a senior TMC leader said after the closed-door meet.
The meeting, which began at 7pm, continued till 9.30pm. Following the steps of Adhikari and Tiwari, Barrackpore MLA Silbhadra Dutta and Uttar Kanthi MLA Banasri Maity quit the TMC on Friday.
(With inputs from PTI)