In a major break from tradition, Trinamool MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and two other MLAs attended the administrative meeting called by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata on Tuesday. The meeting, held with administrative officials and elected representatives from North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts, is considered a politically unusual scene in West Bengal’s current landscape.
Besides Kakali, Trinamool MLA from Deganga, Anisur Rahman, Trinamool MLA from Swarupnagar, Veena Mandal, Trinamool MLA from Harwa, Abdul Matin, and six other legislators were present in the meeting.
Interestingly, the TMC never invited BJP MLAs to any administrative meetings. So, the BJP's invitation to the TMC lawmakers is seen as a politically loaded move.
Kakoli’s move comes just days after resigning from the post of president of the Barasat organisational district. She had also criticised TMC chief Mamata Banerjee after she replaced Kakoli with Kalyan Banerjee as chief whip in Lok Sabha. She had also openly criticised Mamata Banerjee and the party for the decision to hire political consultancy firm I-PAC, which, she said, created “havoc” and “ruined” the party. Kakoli also put up a post lashing out after she was replaced by Kalyan Banerjee.
The TMC leaders’ decision to attend the meeting has also stoked speculation that the party, reeling under the defeat, could be heading for a split. However, Kakoli clarified her attendance, stating that she received an invitation and emphasised that administration is not owned by any single political party. “Administration belongs to everyone. This is not a party programme,” she said.
Shuvendu Adhikari also justified the meeting, stating they haven't received any invitations for 5 years, but the party had made it clear that they would call all the MLAs for the administrative meeting. “We will call special MPs. We offered a special invitation to Kakli Ghosh Dastidar, who attended,” he added.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife that over 12 TMC MPs are preparing to join or support the BJP. Furthermore, five to six more names are also considering defecting.
